“Though the PA OSCE resolution repeats statements of previous resolutions on Belarus, its passing in this particular moment are of a great importance,” told Charter’97 international coordinator, a former deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Andrei Sannikov, commenting on adopting the resolution on situation in Belarus. “The official Minsk worked hard to achieve recognition of the political system existing in Belarus once again. Some statements have been made on sincere interest in improvement of relations with Europe and international organizations; attempts have been made to bargain for some meltdown of position on Belarus for release of some political prisoners, however no real steps on democratization have been made by Belarusian authorities,” Sannikov answered.

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On July 9, on the last day of the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, by majority of votes a resolution on situation in Belarus earlier approved by Committee on Political Affairs and Security of the PA OSCE (the so-called Kyiv Declaration) was passed. The Declaration consists of separate resolutions, which drafts had been approved by relevant PA OSCE committees.

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According to the data posted on the web-site of the Belarusian National Bank, the actual rate of Belarusian ruble fell with 2.5 per cent within January-May 2007 compared to December 2006. The decrease is evaluated regarding the currencies of Belarus’ key trade partners.

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Gomel activists of the organization committee for the party “Belarusian Christian Democracy” applied to chairperson of the Gomel municipal executive committee Aliaksandar Yakabson and chief of the Gomel region KGB administration Ivan Korzh demanding the information on the results of the excavations of mass burials. Explorers discovered remains of 70 shot people in a forest close to the city, about two weeks ago.

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As the remedial center “Viasna” found out, investigator of the regional public prosecutor’s office of Minsk Vitold Aliaksieyeu, who is in charge of the criminal case of Ivan Shyla, appointed the data on the refusal of witness Zmitsier Dashkievich to testify on the case as a separate case.

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The participants of the constituent conference of “Movement “Za svobodu” (“For Freedom”) from all over Belarus are summoned to ideological departments of regional executive committees and justice departments. The officials want the activists to give written explanations and prove their participation in the conference which was held May 20 in Grodna.

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Chairperson of the National Security Committee (KGB) Stsiapan Sukharenka exposed the organization’s priorities, such as espionage, secret service and constitutional system protection, in an interview to the magazine “Soyuznoye Gosudarstvo” (“Union State”).

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Vitsiebsk Chygunachny district court fined local opposition activist Barys Khamaida with 100 basic values (BR 310 thousand) for picketing on July 7. B.Khamaida came to the city center where the arts festival “Slavonic Bazaar” is being held these days, holding a poster dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Yanka Kupala, the classical poet of the Belarusian literature.

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Festivities dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Yanka Kupala, the classical poet of the Belarusian literature, took place in the village of Viazynka (Maladziechna district) - the home village of the poet. Despite the attempts of the police and KGB officers to hinder from holding the fest, leader of the movement “For Freedom!” Aliaksandar Milinkievich and his upholders honored the Belarusian poet.

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A member of a trade union of the Radio and Electronics Workers’ Union (REWU) Alyaksandr Berasnyou had been summoned to Buda Kashalyou police department. During a face-to-face confrontation he identified criminals who beat him up by baseball bats on June 14. On June 14 two unknown attacked him. As a result, the unconscious man spent several days in the hospital.

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On July 7in the framework of traditional Days of Polish culture in Minsk region a solemn opening of a monument to Pope John Paul II took place in the town of Valozhyn. A monument of more than 2 metres was placed in the historical center of the city, near the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph, a monument of 19th century Classicism.

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For the first time two Belarusians took part in Tour de France. However, they are not representing our country. However, A TV channel Eurosport demonstrates a white-red-white flag by the name of one of the Belarusian cyclists.

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The second phase of the Baltic pipeline system (BPS-2) can be launched under a tight schedule, Russian Prime minister Sergei Ivanov believes. “Knowing Transneft capabilities, it is feasible to construct the pipeline BPS-2 in a relatively short time, to increase volume of exported oil,” Ivanov told on Sunday to journalists in Primorsk.

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