On June 2 in Budslau (Myadzel district) where an annual mass holiday of Belarusian Catholics, 14 activists of a campaign for freedom of worship were detained.

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Aliaksandar Lukashenka came back to his “anti-west” rhetoric. He threatened Europe again with reciprocal sanctions, criticized the US policy and NATO expansion yesterday at the solemn meeting on the occasion of the Independence Day and today at the military parade. Although the Belarusian leader talked much about the necessity to maintain independence, he repeatedly vowed fidelity to Russia. Lukashenka must be looking forward to get the Russian credit in the present situation of economic crisis. It became known after the last session of the Council of Ministers that Belarus now requests $ 2bln from Russia.

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A military parade and sports procession of young people were held on July 3 in Victors’ (Masherava) Avenue in Minsk. There were no heavy military equipment and airplanes in the parade, but soldiers of different branches of troops were marching, sportsmen, BRYU activists, pioneers and Octobrists. Mass sports events with participation of gymnasts were rather spectacular.

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In a head office of the organizing committee of the party “Belarusian Christian Democracy” in Pushkin Avenue in Minsk a search is held. The Charter’97 press-center was told about that by a co-chairman of the organizing committee on creation of the party, Alyaksei Shein. It is still unknown who is carrying out a search, KGB officers or policemen. Mobile phones of the young activists in the apartment are switched off.

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“The principal issue is the energy security. In our energy vectors we depend on one country and any diversification of energy supplies plays a key role,” - Aliaksandar Lukashenka said Monday at a solemn meeting held in Minsk on the occasion of the Independence Day.

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More than 70 concerts have been held in different cities and towns of the country within the social action “For Independent Belarus” that will be ended today with a large performance in Minsk, as head of the arts department of the Ministry of Culture Mikhas Kazlovich said today.

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On July 3 the official Independence Day is celebrated. The day before at a solemn meeting Alyaksandr Lukashenka called independence important achievement of the nation. Experts note that after energy row with Russia in the beginning of this year the topic of independence is heard more and more often in speeches of the leadership of the country. Stating the importance of strengthening sovereignty, the regime has started the game at the field where opposition traditionally acted, a Russian newspaper “Vremya novostej” writes.

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The Russian part informed Belarusian Prime Minister Siargey Sidorski on the new terms for the Russian state credit at the talks held last Friday. The sum requested by Belarus has grown from $ 1.5bln to $ 2bln. According to the Russian newspaper “Kommersant”, Russia insists that Belarus should change its financial policy so that this would be the last credit requested; Belarus still hasn’t re-evaluated the price of “Gazprom” gas supplies.

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As Aliaksandar Lukashenka said today at a meeting with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, Belarus and Venezuela are to hold tense cooperation in the spheres of trade, economy, science, technology as well as in the military sphere. The Belarusian Head also claimed views of Belarus and Venezuela on the global system and international problems are “absolutely identical”.

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Today Belarus celebrates Day of Liberation of Minsk from Nazi invaders. A military parade, mass open air celebrations and concerts under a slogan “For independent Belarus!” are to be held in the capital of Belarus all day long. As we have informed, the organizing committee for celebration of Independence Day on July 27 has called upon supporters of the democratic forces to take an active part in celebration of the Day of Liberation from Nazi invaders.

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