In his speech at the government sitting minister of economics Mikalai Zaichanka reported that the export of petrochemicals in Belarus decreased in January-April period by USD 205.1 million and the export of the Belarusian oil was not performed at all.

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Foreign Policy journal and the research center Fund for Peace published an Instability Rating of countries – 2007. It includes 60 countries. Belarus takes the 51st position in instability rating. The rating is created according 12 political, economic, military and social indicators in order of their vulnerability to violent internal conflict and societal deterioration. In particular, the demographic situation, human rights situation, powerfulness and controllability of special services, unity of state elites and external factors.

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The “Yanka Kupala in the World Literature” party was held at the Minsk House of Friendship 19 June. At the event dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the Belarusian poet his verses were recited in different languages by representatives of the heads of diplomatic missions in Belarus.

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One of the founders of the public association “Liquidator”, a Chernobyl liquidator, disabled person Mikalay Shynkouski, died in the age of 60 in Vitesbsk.

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Expulsion of Belarus from the “black list” of the UNO Council on Human Rights completely undermines the UNO authority”, considers leader of the “For Freedom Movement", former president candidate of Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich declared.

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The United States is disappointed with the new standards adopted by the UN Human Rights Council because they suffer “serious defects”, official representative of the U.S. Department of State Sean McCormack declared.

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On 14 June at the Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion the honorary blood donor Ihar Kavalenka returned the medal ‘Honorary Donor of Belarus’ back to the officials. In his interview with RFE/RL he thusly commented on his decision: ‘In the case the state stops supporting donors and deprives them of benefits medals to them become just clear plates’.

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RFE/RL reports, member of the directorate for public prosecutions Viktoria Kukso invites the students by telephone.

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Artur Finkevich, a young opposition activist serving a restricted freedom term in the Mahilyow region, will be given a different job.

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A judge of the Minsk City Court on Tuesday threw out an appeal filed by a Protestant minister against a hefty fine imposed on him over a religious service.

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Karen Stewart, the US ambassador to Belarus, on Wednesday began her tour of the Homyel region.

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The benefits are annulled completely and irrevocably in Belarus. Hopes of many pensioners, students, schoolchildren and other beneficiaries didn’t come true: last week Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed the text of the corresponding bill. And in two days it was officially published.

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