Opposition politicians and economic experts on Friday met in Minsk to discuss proposals that they could put forward to authorities regarding the system of state benefits and pensions.

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It is necessary to come from the chaotic support to large-scale sports ‘projects. That was declared today by Alyaksandr Lukashenka at his meeting with coaches and sportsmen of the national team of the Republic of Belarus in artistic gymnastics.

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The authorities stopped imprisoning opposition in Belarus but started penalty punishment. New “penalty policy” is much more profitable for the state. The imprisoned have to be taken care of. And in May the penalties of oppositionists replenished the state treasury with 5 thousand dollars. We may say that the opposition helps the state to survive the power resources price hike!

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The Embassy of the United States of America in Belarus welcomes the early release from prison of Yekaterina Sadovskaya, Pavel Severinets, and Nikolay Statkevich. At the same time, we repeat our call upon the Belarusian authorities to release remaining political prisoners Dmitriy Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Aleksandr Kozulin, Andrey Klimov, Nikolay Avtukhovich, and Yuriy Leonov.

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In January-April 2007 Belarus’ negative balance of trade in goods amounted to $1,162.5 mln, Statistics and Analysis Ministry informs. In January-April 2006 negative balance was $391 mln.

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European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has expressed gratitude to one of the leaders of the democratic forces of Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich for support of efforts of the EU in the affair of opening the representation of the European Commission in Belarus.

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A mass protest of donors is to start in Mahilyou. Over 100 honorable donors of Belarus expressed their intension to launch a strike of protest against the benefits’ annulment.

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On June 1 in the morning Barysau orphan asylum of regional education department was visited by members of Barysau youth center “Volat” by the Belarusian Language Society.

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Young Front activist Nasta Azarka from Nyasvizh and Paval Krasouski from Zhodizna were summoned to Minsk regional prosecutor’s office yesterday. Young activists were interrogated in the framework of the criminal case opened on the fact of participation of underage Ivan Shyla in the Young Front organization.

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Trying to protect its own government from losing trade preferences caused by violation of trade unions’ rights in Belarus the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) resorts to various tricks, including, as site www.praca-by.info reports subject to the claim of the International Trade Union Association of Metal Workers,”copying of signatures under the appeal of a “group of working people” to the European Commission.

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In August a concert-festival “Be 2gether” is to take place in a several meters from the Belarusian border on the territory of Lithuania near Norviliskes Castle. As said by Deutsche Welle, organizers of the event, including Foreign Ministry of Lithuania, do not conceal that that appeal is addressed primarily to the Belarusians.

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The Congress of the Democratic forces has demonstrated that two visions of democratization strategy for Belarus exist in oppositional movement. Some actions of opponents of the strategy adopted by the Congress verged on provocation, but let us leave it lying on these people’s conscience. I have got acquainted with different analysis of the forum. But one, very important uniting factor has stayed in shade. I think it is only for the time being.

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The chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene van der Linden has expressed his support to Belarusian oppositional forces in a letter addressed to the leader of the United Civil party of Belarus Anatol Lyabedzka. “My position in support of the democratic reforms has always included support of the democratic forces as a vital element of political pluralism,” the head of the PACE wrote.

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