EXPERTBY.ORG updates

Constitutional Court vested with additional authority

The Constitutional Court is vested with a right to exercise compulsory provisional control over the validity of all laws adopted by the House of Representatives of the National Assembly and approved by the Council of the Republic.
It will confirm conformity of Belarus' international agreements with the Constitution, before the president signs normative and legal acts expressing consent of Belarus with the obligatoriness of international agreements for it.
The Court is vested with a right to give an official explanation of decrees and edicts of the president related to the constitutional rights, freedoms and duties of the citizens.
Judges of the Constitutional Court will check the validity of the avenues of the rule-making activity and judicial practice of courts, law-enforcement and other state bodies. The activities of top-level government officials will also be checked.

Belarus and Venezuela aim to deepen cooperation in the energy sector and to create a multipolar world

Belarus and Venezuela will increase cooperation in the energy sector and aim at the creation of a multipolar world, Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the final joint communique signed in Minsk on 23 July.
The talks in Minsk have once again "demonstrated the concurrence of views on the solution of the problems and challenges that Belarus and Venezuela encounter in their striving for the creation of a multipolar world based on such principles as solidarity, cooperation and mutual respect", the document states.

Alexander Lukashenko meets Hugo Chaves

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko conferred an Order of the People's Friendship on President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez pointing out that the Venezuelan leader had done for Belarus more that any other statesmen and heads of state.
"Not a single statesman or president of other country has done as much for our country as this person has done," declared A. Lukashenko presenting the award to H. Chaves in the park in the centre of Minsk named after Simon Bolivar, the national hero of Venezuela.

Successors of Sheiman and Nevyglas appointed

Alexander Lukashenko has appointed Yuri Zhadobin, former KGB head, State Secretary of the Security Council, official sources announced.
Vladimir Makei, a presidential aide up to this point, has been appointed Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus.

Rights advocates note absence of transparency in the process of forming district election commissions

According to the secretary of the Central Election Commission Nikolai Lozovik, 38 representatives of opposition parties were included in district election commissions: 17 activists of the United civic party, 5 - Party BNF, 10 - Party of communists Belarusian, 6 - Belarusian social democratic party (Hramada).
"The commissions were actually formed in a closed regime. In practice, observes and journalists were not admitted to all the sittings at which the commissions were formed, said chairman of the public association "Belarusian Helsinki Committee" (BHC) Oleg Gulak.

Reconstruction of building no. 15 at Svoboda Square will continue

The Administration of Central district of Minsk city does not see any reason to suspend design and survey works on the reconstruction of building no. 15 at Svoboda Square, which is a monument of classicism architecture of XVIII century put on the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus.
As a reminder, on 14 March 2008 a unique two-storied building with decorated facade at the Revolutsionnaya street 17 was demolished as a result of "reconstruction" in the historical centre of Minsk. The monument of architecture is destroyed and no one is guilty of committing this crime.

Opposition put forward 136 representatives as members of district election commissions

Secretary of Belarus's Central Election Commission N. Lazovik: "There will be some contest, competition in the process of forming election commissions." "Regional election commissions will be formed during today's meetings of executive committees, regional councils, Minsk City Executive Committee, Minsk City Council." He also specified that one commission will include from 9 to 13 persons. Thus the commission will be composed of a minimum of 990 persons and a maximum of 1,430 persons.

On the road to nowhere

Attempts to comprehend the realities of domestic economy sounded in statements at the June's session of the Republican board of directors of the Belarusian Scientific and Industrial Association (RPA BNPA). Experts spoke in favour of private and state partnership, however in so doing they urged to take thought to which side the Belarus economy is being surrendered.
Doctor of Economic Sciences Petr KAPITULA: "They will take us barehanded and for free."

We should not lose the chance to save for descendants our cultural treasures

The Belarusian voluntary society for protection of the monuments of history and culture (BDTAPGK) is concerned with the fate of the national heritage as it sees violations of law committed by the state structures, which must act as guardians of the Constitution and laws of Belarus however in reality work towards destruction of monuments of architecture. In this connection, chairman of the Republican association BDTAPGK Anton Astapovich appeals to the pubic, political parties and mass media.
Only in the past two years Minsk, Grodno and other Belarusian localities have lost dozens or even hundreds of monuments of culture and history. Nothing can save from destruction, even putting on the State List of Historical and Cultural Values. Both local executive authorities and the Ministry of Culture, which is an authorized state body to exercise control over adherence to the legislation on protection of historical and cultural heritage, are directly related to the process of violations of normative and legislative base. This inevitably leads to more and more losses of historical and cultural treasures.

MAZ transformation into joint-stock company gets underway

"We are soon to start transformation of large enterprises into joint-stock companies. They will be transformed in the near future," Vice-Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko informed. In this respect, Vladimir Semashko noted that "the government ordered to start the process at one of such enterprises - MAZ".
"We restrained privatization before, we did not sell out our companies as it happened in the neighboring countries," he added.

Interior Ministry warns owners of Internet cafes of the responsibility for their visitors’ messages

Owners of Internet cafes should remember of the responsibility for the messages which are sent by their visitors, told journalists Chief of the Hi-Tech Crimes Department of the Belarusian Interior Ministry Igor Chernenko.

Resignation of Sheiman is logical and expected, resignation of Nevyglas is a little bit unexpected, says V. Karbalevich

"According to certain closed information, the real power, control over power structures has long ago been in the process of transfer from Sheiman to presidential aide on security Viktor Lukashenko. And now what has been a de-facto situation became a de-jure situation," commented on the situation politologist Valery Karbalevich.

Opposition activists interrogated on the explosion case

Law enforcement bodies interrogate opposition activists and search their comes in different regions of Belarus to investigate the case about the explosion in Minsk during a festive concert marking Independence Day overnight 3-4 July, inform Belarusian human rights activists.

G. Nevyglas and V. Sheiman relieved of their posts

On 8 July President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree to relieve Viktor Sheiman and Gennady Nevyglas of their posts (State Secretary of the Security Council and Head of the Presidential Administration) in connection with the transfer to another job.

“Reporters Without Borders” urged Lukashenko to reject new media law

"We repeat our concern about the deterioration in press freedom in Belarus. We urge Alexander Lukashenko to reject this law which steps up the already strong pressure on the press in Belarus," reads a statement at the official website of the international human rights organization "Reporters Without Borders".

Transcript: on 5 July Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko answered journalists’ questions

"Why should we tighten the screw today? What has happened in the country that we should tighten the screw?! Although in this case it is a political issue, we will look into it in compliance with law", Lukashenko said about the explosion in Minsk.

With the eleven-year education, only two foreign language lessons per week to be left

In his statement to the deputies of the Belarusian parliament, Deputy Minister of Education Kazimir Farino informed that a draft of the new education curriculum had been developed and even agreed with the Ministry of Health. As soon as the presidential decree is signed, it will be immediately sent out to schools. Nobody doubted that medics would agree with the new curriculum because they would resist any overwork. Now no one will be overloaded at school. After all, the school curriculum is being cut by 20%.

V. Semashko: Belarus Government intends to take measures to stop brain drain from the country

The Government of Belarus develops measures to stop brain drain from the country, First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko announced today.
"Firstly, in 2.5 years the average salary in the republic should be raised to $750-1000. Secondly, differentiation should be introduced, so that one person could receive $500, and the other $5,000," considers Vladimir Semashko.

Youth activist Mikhail Pashkevich sentenced to seven days of administrative arrest

Mikhail Pashkevich, the activist of the United Civic Party (UCP) and one of the leaders of UCP youth organization "Young democrats", sentenced to seven days of administrative arrest.
He was detained on 28 June in the vicinity of the railway station in Minsk. On this day the political council of UCP delegated M. Pashkevich to the central election commission as an observer from the party.

Is it early to speak about a new position of Poland?

The information was broadly circulated last week regarding a new position of Poland on the issue of relations between Belarus and the European Union. The most impressive are certainly proposals from the Polish side to abandon the politics of sanctions against our country. A specialist in the field of international relations Andrei Fiodarau comments on the situation upon
request from the correspondent of EXPERTBY.ORG.
"It is a thousand pities that we cannot deny that our state is under constant threat of losing its independence. If a united Europe had joined the US economic sanctions, then for known reasons the material well-being of the population would have worsened significantly. No doubt under the circumstances in order to calm down the wave of mass disturbance, Minsk would have decided to agree to those conditions which Moscow has been continuously suggesting lately and which sooner or later would have led us to actually giving up our sovereignty."

Dura lex, sed… lex? Reflections against the background of the monument to Bagdanovich

Chairman of the republican society for protection of monuments Antos Astapovich answered the site EXPERTBY.ORG correspondent's questions.
In his opinion, the problem is not in moving the monument, even if it is from the central to the side alley, but that in so doing a gross violation of the Law has been committed. What we are talking about here is the level of legal awareness among those people who take decisions in the country. Mr. Astapovich gave the following reply to the question why the monument was moved: "I have always explained motivation in very simple terms. I have never sought politics or ideology as the answer lies beneath the surface. It is money in the first place. Even with the monument to Bagdanovich everything becomes very clear. Just analyse this question from the point of view of how it can be profitable. And this is very profitable: in the place where the monument stood before a big fountain is being constructed. What is the fountain? These are earth works, these are engineering networks, and these are installation works. In a nutshell, it is one of the most financially expensive works according to the construction norms and job prices. Here you come to the motivation which is to utilize as much as possible funds from the state budget."

Polish leadership would like to return Belarus to Europe

The Government of Poland has suddenly decided to influence the EU strategy towards Belarus. Polish diplomats working in Brussels try to convince their EU colleagues to lift or at least lighten political and economic sanctions against Belarus. Their main argument is that any restrictive measures against Minsk are useless, while the number one purpose is to "draw Belarus from Moscow's hands."

The monument to Maksim Bagdanovich moved to a new place

The monument, which disappearance several weeks ago alarmed the public in Minsk, has returned to the park near the opera and ballet theatre. However now the monument to Maksim Bagdanovich is located not at the alley which leads to the central entrance to the theatre, but at the side alley which goes to Bagdanovich street opposite Zaborsky street and Minsk Suvorov's Military School.

Gas price exceeding $140 will affect Belarus’ macroeconomic indicators, says Economy Minister

The gas price for Belarus exceeding $140 per one thousand cubic metres will affect the country's macroeconomic indicators, Belarusian Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko told a press-conference in Minsk.
In so doing, he refused to comment on the statement of the Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov that gas prices for Belarus can exceed $200 per one thousand cubic metres in 2009.

Belarus abolished 53 administrative procedures for carrying out enterpreneurial activity

Belarus abolished 53 administrative procedures for carrying out economic and enterpreneurial activity, declared Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Tur. According to the Deputy Minister over the period of re-registration of individual entrepreneurs as economic entities, 15,000 private unitary enterprises have been additionally established.

The Union State budget for 2009 is estimated at over 5.5 billion Russian rubles

The Union State budget for 2009 is estimated at over 5.5 billion Russian rubles, State Secretary of the Union State Pavel Borodin told journalists. Contributions of Belarus and Russia to the 2009 union budget are to be increased by 25%.

V. Naumov: Guarantee and bail should be applied actively as alternatives to imprisonment

Guarantee and bail should be applied actively instead of imprisonment, Belarus interior minister Vladimir Naumov expressed his opinion to journalists.

А. Lukashenko thanked Russia’s FSB (Federal Security Service) for support

"Interaction between Belarusian KGB and Russian FSB is a secure backstop to unfriendly forces," declared A. Lukashenko.
In addition, the Belarus President thanked the director of the Russian security service for the supported provided to KGB. "You should not have any doubts regarding mutuality from our side," assured Alexander Lukashenko.

A. Lukashenko: Belarus and Russia will soon take a number of significant decisions within the framework of the Union State

"We have agreed in the near future to take a number of significant decisions, not only on global matters, but these decisions will be felt by our countries' citizens," A. Lukashenko declared at a meeting with the director of the Federal Security Service of RF Alexander Bortnikov in Minsk.

Parliament adopted at second reading a draft law "On the Rules of Belarusian Orthography and Punctuation"

According to the Chairman of the Standing committee on education, culture, science and scientific and technical progress of the lower chamber Vladimir Zdanovich, adoption of the law is a significant event in the life of the country, as it is for the first time that the rules are endorsed by way of law. The deputy also noted that the issue of the orthography rules lately took on a "political flavour" when supporters of this or that spelling variant "fought between themselves."

Belarus’ external debt has grown by USD one billon

"The major share is allocated not for technical rearmament and modern technologies, but for guzzling," noted Ex-Head of the National Bank Stanislav Bogdankevich. He pointed to very poor indicators of the republic's trade balance proving that the country consumes more than it produces and exports.

Russia's richest people attack Belarusian market

Alexander Lukashenko has been saying for many years that he had not allowed Russian oligarchs to buy up Belarus. And now he has suddenly tailed away and does not boast anymore. On the contrary, there is no week without the news on preparations for sale of this or that Belarusian enterprise. Property is being sold out without open tender and deals are made without public involvement, but as a result of backstage negotiations.

Intellectuals appealed to Metropolitan Filaret concerning a cross in the village of Drazhno

Belarusian intellectuals suggest to Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk to discuss the situation around a memorial cross, which was erected by the public in the village of Drazhno, Starye Dorogi district, Minsk region, in memory of the civilians killed by Soviet partisans on 15 April 1943, and later demounted according to a decision of the local administration.

Again 12

The issue of return to the 11-year education and termination of specialized school classes will be soon finally and forever resolved. Not a bad move in order to damage the image of the state and its leadership. Well, if the school reform has been initiated in order to divert public attention from some other, more important issues (e.g. sale of Belarusian enterprises to Russian oligarchs), then it can be understood. However, if these changes in the school system, that have been declared so loudly, are a self-sufficient occurrence in the information widespread, then their justification should be... well, so to say... further elaborated. Indeed all around us, we see the transition towards 12-year education - Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia...The majority of countries have specialization in senior classes, and those who don't have it try to create it... After long discussions and deliberations, by the way... And suddenly in the very centre of Europe there is a country which announces, that it is not able and is not willing to ensure for its pupils the same conditions as in other countries...

Belarus decided to economize on education spending

"If we go further, this 12-year education would require about 150 billion rubles annually," announced А. Lukashenko at a meeting with students. "We'd better use this money for your stipends and teachers' salaries", he added.

Millions of “humanitarian” dollars embezzled at the Administration of Presidential Affairs

Humanitarian Aid Department of the Administration of Presidential Affairs is at the centre of an unholy row, which is unprecedented in the history of this department. The Administration on combating corruption and economic crimes of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Minsk City Executive Committee opened several criminal cases pertaining to the embezzlement of millions of dollars in various humanitarian programmes carried out through the department.

Legislation violated in the historical centre of Minsk

Basements of complex of buildings No 19-21 at Svoboda square, which are put on the State list if historical and cultural values of the Republic of Belarus, have become a construction site for works on the erection of a fountain, retaining walls and other small architecture forms under the project. The works started in violation of a number of normative and legal acts, in particular the Law "On protection of historical and cultural heritage of the Republic of Belarus".

“Live shield” No. 2: The victims were made guilty themselves!

The Minsk City Procurator's Office refused to open a criminal case against the road police officers who, according to claims of four applicants, had organized last autumn's "live shield" resulting in severe human injuries. The conclusion of the check-up revealed that the drivers had organized the jam on the road themselves!

Tightening law on mass media

BelaPAN information agency has a copy of a draft law on mass media which is to go through first reading in the Chamber of Representatives on June 17.
In particular, changes in the law pertain to the conditions of mass media registration, accreditation of journalists, responsibility for distribution of information, as well as stipulate for registration of internet resources.

Builders of the National Library cheated for hundreds of millions of rubles

Two years have passed since Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky ordered to pay to organizations involved in the construction of a "diamond" - National Library. However the money earned by contractors has not been paid until now. The debt is about 620 million rubles!

D. Medvedev signed the law on ratification of the agreement with Belarus on cooperation in the export of oil

The President of Russia signed the law according to which customs duties in 2009 for crude oil supplied to Belarus from Russia will be calculated based on the rates established by the Russian legislation, with the use of the descending coefficient 0.356.

An annual survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting has rated Minsk as Europe’s worst city to live in

An annual survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting has rated Minsk as Europe's worst city to live in. The rating was based on such criteria as personal safety, access to health care, transport and other communal services, as well as a number of social, economic, environmental and political factors. Minsk ranked last among 183 European countries included in the rating.

Belarus would like to receive this year a $ 2 billion credit from Russia, the Finance Ministry said

Finance ministries of Belarus and Russia are currently negotiating a $ 2 billion credit from Russia to Belarus, First Deputy Finance Minister Andrei Kharkovets told journalists in Minsk.

Belarus calls on the USA to enter equitable and mutually respectful dialogue

The Belarusian side still considers that the extension or stiffening of sanctions is not the best way of normalizing bilateral relations and once again calls on the USA to enter equitable and mutually respectful dialogue, said Press Secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Popov.

A. Surikov: Russia might suggest deploying anti-missile systems in Belarus

Russia will not station nuclear weapons in Belarus, however it might suggest deploying an anti-missile defence system, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov told a press-conference in Minsk.

Deripaska will amalgamate Ural and MAZ

Mikhail Lyamin, an analyst at the Bank of Moscow, estimates the amalgamated company at USD 3.5-3.7 billion, of which MAZ will have USD 1.5 billion, and Ural - USD 1-1.1 billion, while the rest will be the investment bank's share. Mikhail Pak from IFD "Kapital" thinks Oleg Deripaska hopes to buy out in future the banks' stake in the amalgamated company.

Private business owners want to turn price regulation upside down

"We believe that prices for goods, with the exception of socially important goods or those produced by enterprises-monopolists, should be regulated by the market," said BUEE (Business Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers) executive director Zhanna Tarasevich. "Everything has now been turned upside down. There is a limited list of goods for which it is allowed to set free prices, while prices for all the rest are regulated. We would like it to be the other way round."

A. Lukashenko intends to take a final decision on further development of general secondary education

"A decision should be made today once and for all. In doing so there should be no half-decisions," declared A.Lukashenko at a meeting on the draft presidential decree on transition to the 11-year education.
"Perhaps some teachers would not be pleased with this decision. But the state's fate is more important than the opinion of certain people," emphasized the president.
Furthermore, he accused Education Minister Radkov of "forgetting a classic writer saying that everything needs to be questioned."

Prospects for liberalizing the Belarusian economy

Head of the Mizes Scientific Centre Yaroslav Romanchuk answers the site expertby.org correspondent's questions on the prospects of liberalizing the Belarusian economy.

- In your opinion, what needs to be changed in the country to enable liberalization?
- Firstly, the government needs to be changed. It should include the people who can propose to the country a systemic reform policy.
- How do you see the main directions of this reform?
- A systemic reform implies, firstly, budget and tax reform and, secondly, banking reform, as well as a law on transparent and honest privatization. In addition, it is the adoption of a law on social guarantees which we also have proposed to the authorities. It also includes administrative reform, i.e. liquidation and neutralization of conflictual interests which are widely present in our government structures. All these reforms need to be conducted at the same time with judicial reform and provision of full-fledged freedom for obtaining information as a guarantee of transparency of processes, responsibility and absence of corruption among government officials.
As a matter of fact, the key issue is who will be managing all this undertaking. If the capital comes here, yes, it will be bad for the elite, yes, it will be bad for the national business, as it will given secondary subordinate roles. Business will pay the politics which it carries out today.

Public calls for the expelled

Belarusian public representatives have appealed to the Education Minister Alyaksandr Radkov and the Soligorsk district education department with an open letter demanding to reinstate Ivan Shilo as a student of the number four secondary school in Soligorsk, as well as to reinstate teachers to their jobs at this school.
Deputy Chairman of the Czech-registered organization Malady Front Ivan Shilo was expelled from the school just ahead of his final graduation exam. The teachers refused to carry out the expulsion ordered by a commission which arrived from Minsk. In this connection the headmaster filed a resignation letter and her deputy was dismissed.
The authors of the appeal are of the opinion that "The expulsion of the youngster from the school one day before his final exam and four days before the awarding of graduation certificates looks immoral and inhumane".

The site for NPP chosen on the quiet

Having analyzed the research results, the commission on selection of the future NPP site came to the conclusion that the site Kukshinovskaya most closely matches the requirements for NPP construction.
Belarus has determined the preferred reactor type for the future NPP. This is the third-generation evolutionary power reactor (PWR).
Belarus has taken a decision on the construction of the nuclear power plant of 2000 MW with Unit 1 to be completed by 2016 and Unit 2 by 2018.

Zdanovich: Return to the 11-year education means the reform leading to caveman times

"It is becoming obvious that return to the 11-year education marks the beginning of a new reform. Such a reform is leading to caveman times," declared Chairman of the Education, Culture and Science Commission at the House of Representatives Vladimir Zdanovich. "Any person having to do a little bit with education will confirm that it is impossible to create new sensible educational curricula, while it is possible to create senseless ones," he noted.

So who is IN FAVOUR? About switch to 11 years

Officers of the Belarus Education and Health Ministries are highly partial to the backward transition to 11-year education, they do not consider this reform timely, well thought out and rational, but they are certain that others (ministries, parents and teachers) for some odd reason are IN FAVOUR of this reform. On behalf of parents, a correspondent of EXPERTBY.ORG declares that parents are also against such school reform which leads to aggravation of the situation in education and in society as a whole.
All the concerned parties underline absence of research, discussions, consultations and competent polls on the subject. Everyone understands that starting the next reform without accomplishing properly the previous one is a rather hasty and unreasonable move by the government. Everyone understands that this will negatively affect the system of education, children's health and even the image of the country. Everyone is against. We have not however managed to find those in favour.

“TBM” и “TBS” call for creation of a new education concept

Public associations "Tavarystva Belaruskai Shkoly" (Belarusian School Society) and "Tavarystva Belaruskai Movy imya Frantzishka Skaryny" (Francisak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society) consider necessary to create a new state concept for development of Belarusian education on the basis of national and international experience. A respective proposal has been submitted to the Belarus Ministry of Education. The declaration was adopted by the assembly "Belarusian language education and upbringing: national security and independence of the country" which was held in Minsk on 23 May.

Income tax. New turn

A single income tax rate of 12 percent will most likely become a reality in Belarus. This is precisely the variant which, according to the information from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Taxes and Dues, will be chosen by designers of the income tax reform. By the way, the Ministry of Taxes and Dues has informed repeatedly than almost 90% of Belarusians pay income tax at the rate of 9%.

Expanding the powers of the Constitutional court will allow to resolve complicated legal issues, says President

The Constitutional Court of Belarus should be granted wider powers in order to effectively utilize its full potential. This opinion was expressed by the President Alexander Lukashenko on 26 May.
As one of the key tasks of the CC Alexander Lukashenko sees control over the country's law-enforcement system. The CC should also be more actively involved in law-making activities.

Russia has decided to do without Belarus

Last week Dmitry Medvedev, the new president of the Russian Federation, paid his first foreign visits to Kazakhstan and Chinese People's Republic, while a visit to Belarus, which as before is viewed by a significant number of Russians and Belarusians as the closest ally of the their country, has not been discussed yet. Although this fact is not surprising, it gives grounds for revisiting the issue of relations between the two countries and for reflecting on the current status and prospects of the Belarusian-Russian relations. Should we expect any changes in these? Politologist Kyril Koktysh answers this question to the correspondent of EXPERTBY.ORG.
The first visit normally marks the priorities of the country and its leader. Selection of Kazakhstan and China as such countries logically outlines those priorities by which Russia will be guided under Medvedev.
The question "why not Belarus" does not seem legally qualified, as indeed it is hard to argue that Belarus has been a priority also before. When decisions are taken on the construction of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 and on the filling of the new pipeline with 40 million tons out of those 70 which now go through "Druzhba", i.e. through the Belarusian territory, it means as a minimum that even in the short-term perspective Russia has decided to do without Belarus and has even invested in its bypass strategy sufficiently big money, so that it would be impossible even to speak about reviewing this strategy.

400 manufacturing companies to be set up in Belarus and 600 manufacturing companies to be modernized. 4 banks to be sold

The State Investment Programme foresees setting up 400 new manufacturing companies and modernizing 600 existing ones, informed first deputy chairman of the board of the National Bank Yuri Alymov.
He also said that by the end of 2008 the sale of a controlling block of shares in Paritet-bank would be finalized and the bank would be acquired by the Russian group Alfa-system. A Latvian commercial bank is expected to buy a controlling block of shares in Tekhnobank. Furthermore, the government is prepared to consider the issue of sale to foreign investors of a controlling block of shares in Belinvestbank and Belpromstroibank.

If medical staff gets pay raise, nothing will be left for treatment of patients

The Council of Ministers of Belarus has adopted an act which allows purchase of expendable materials for complicated operations by patients themselves, thus actually recognizing that hospitals lack funds for treatment.
Last year Belarus spent USD 164 per capita for health care needs. On average, health care expenditure in our country constitutes 4-4.2% of GDP, compared to 9% in the European Union countries and 15% in the U.S.
Lukashenko the politician knew how to fight for votes and proclaimed from the house-tops that he would remedy the situation. It was promised that in the next five-year term (2006-2010) not less than 7% of GDP would be allocated for health care. However the pre-election impulse of the newly re-elected president has come to nought - the planned funding has never reached the health care system.
In 2008 one trillion and 26 million roubles were allocated for the health care system from the republican budget. For comparison, in 2008 it is planned to spend one trillion and 240 billion for the army, while for the power institutions, the Ministry of Interior and KGB, it has been decided to allocate almost two times more of the budget funding than for the whole health care system, that is 1 trillion and 949 billion roubles.

Belarusian teachers against cancellation of the subject world artistic culture

Teachers of world artistic culture from more than 20 Belarusian cities have come out with an open letter concerning the planned reduction of educational workload at the sacrifice of humanitarian subjects.
"The idea to reduce educational workload at the sacrifice of disciplines of the "art" educational area, including at the sacrifice of the subject world artistic culture, sounds as nonsense in the context of the president's address to the people and the parliament where he spoke about the spiritual health of the nation," the teachers believe.

UN Deputy Secretary General to visit Belarus

UN Deputy Secretary General, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Marek Belka will visit Belarus on May 22-23 at the invitation of the head of the Belarusian Government, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Popov told a briefing in Minsk.

The government starts a sell-out

Alexander Lukashenko met with Oleg Deripaska. Belarus Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko told in Kiev that he did not exclude the possibility of sale of the Minsk automobile plant in the process of privatization. He also admitted that Belarus hoped to receive at least USD 500 million in selling state mobile phone operator BeST.
Deputy Chairperson of the Concern "Belneftekhim" informed that the concern considered the sale of "Polimir" and "Naftan" shares.

Counter-reform of education

Some documentation in pursuance of the Order of the President of the Republic of Belarus has already been received at schools.
It contains enough surprises.
Notwithstanding the fact that preservation of gymnasiums and lyceums is declared, their specialization has been reduced practically to zero. According to the hourly work load received by gymnasiums, instead of 12-14 hours of physics and mathematics senior pupils will have 7, that is 5 hours of mathematics and 2 hours of physics.
The country needs workers hands. However it is not clear why the leadership of the country connects workers hands with the reduction of educational level. All over the world the complexity of equipment implies that "workers hands" are accompanied by clever heads.
An attempt to make education match the outdated manufacturing equipment is a very peculiar solution. Isn't it easier to do the opposite and to modernize enterprises, to provide them with modern equipment requiring creative and intellectual labour from workers?
The essential fact proved by history on repeated occasions is that the reforms, which are started but not completed, negatively affect the image of the country leadership.

Draft presidential decree prepared on certain issues of general secondary education

First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus Anatoly Rubinov considers that "the optimal solution has been found with regard to the real current situation."
According to Anatoly Rubinov, the first and most important what does not raise any doubts among anyone is the 11-year secondary education. It will be provided in accordance with the unified, universal programme. Once the programme has been completed, a school leaver will receive a certificate of secondary education.
However "it is suggested to keep gymnasium and lyceum classes at those schools where they are already in place," added A. Rubinov.

635 Belarusians committed suicide in the first quarter

A deadly picture was presented by the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis. In the first quarter of this year 635 Belarusian citizens voluntarily did away with themselves. About seven people passed away every day. Compared to January-March of last year, the number of suicides has increased by 8.7%.

Lebedko requested the Procurator General to investigate the supply of weapons to Colombian rebels

On 19 May Chairman of the National Committee of the United Democratic Forces and the United Civic Party Anatoly Lebedko submitted an appeal to the Procurator General Grigory Vasilevich with the request for an investigation of the supply of weapons by Belarusian structures to Colombian rebels.

Head of “Russian Machines” does not exclude sale of MAZ

"If the President of Belarus considers that the we agree with the assessment of the results of our today's meeting, then we should expect that Minsk automobile plant may be transformed into a joint stock company", told director general of OAO "Russian Machines" Valery Lukin to the journalists in Minsk when commenting on today's meeting of Oleg Deripaska with Alexander Lukashenko.

THE PEOPLE ARE NOT FOR THE AUTHORITIES, BUT THE AUTHORITIES ARE FOR THE PEOPLE!

A press-conference was held on Monday where representatives of the United democratic forces presented the UDF message to voters for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Leaders of main opposition parties and organizations voiced the position of UDF on the strategy of participation of democratic forces in the 2008 elections. They answered journalists' questions related to the text of the message, as well as to other topics, in particular, to the position of UDF representatives towards the construction of NPP in Belarus.

A. Lukashenko considers cooperation of Belarus with OAO “Russian Machines” promising

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko considers implementation of joint projects with OAO "Russian Machines" promising, in particular, with the participation of "Minsk automobile plant".
"I am long aware of your proposals, of the interest of Russian companies in Belarusian mechanical engineering. This is natural, we should work together in order to receive the greatest advantage from our joint projects and to withstand the tough competition," declared A. Lukashenko at a meeting in Minsk with Oleg Deripaska, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the investment company "Basic Element", Chairman of the Board of Directors of OAO "Russian Machines".

Will the opposition be given permits to enter a new parliament?

In an interview with Reuters agency Lukashenko declared that he would be pleased with some oppositionists winning.
"I will be honest. I would like for at least a few opposition figures to win support so that you cannot accuse us of not having an opposition in parliament. But that will depend on the people...My job is to ensure a normal voting process," said the Belarus president. However, he made one essential reservation that the deputies' mandates will be given to the opposition if this helps improve relations with the West.
Yet it cannot be excluded that by issuing permits to the parliament for the opposition in advance, by giving hopes to them, Lukashenko just wants to calm down the boycott sentiments, while the elections can well be held according to the known arrangements.

President to approve the new orthography and punctuation rules for the Belarusian language

Chairman of the Standing Committee for Education, Culture, Science and Scientific and Technological Progress of the House of Representatives Vladimir Zdanovich: "No one is going to punish people for the word which is not correctly used, spelled or pronounced. However the newspapers will be obliged to use the new standard of Belarusian language. I can only have compassion on them. There are two publications ("Nasha Niva" and "Arche") which use "tarashkevitsa", but after the law comes into force, they will have to be guided by the approved rules."

With the 11-year schooling Belarusians will fall even further behind China

Chairman of the Standing Committee for Education, Culture, Science and Scientific and Technological Progress of the House of Representatives Vladimir Zdanovich: "A majority of the commission members during the first session have expressed their support for transition to the 11-year secondary education. The things are developing very intensively, while undue haste normally does not lead to good results."
The deputy suggests to allow today's tenth-form pupils to finish their studies smoothly according to the old curriculum, so that in 2 years the necessity of transition to the 11-year schooling could be examined and methods for such a transition developed, or the whole idea maybe abandoned.

А. Lukashenko gave an interview to the Reuters news agency

In particular, Alexander Lukashenko declared: "We will not allow Americans to act here the way they want to."
"No need to intimidate us by sanctions, we will survive. We do not have such an amount of US capital in Belarus which outflow from this country could destroy our economy. On the whole our economy is not dependent on any particular state," added the Belarusian head of state.

What to expect from the school reform

Our school children and their parents hardly had time to get used to the 12-year secondary education system, and now they have to get used to a new, that is to say, old 11-year system.
Alexander Lukashenko mentioned this more than once.
"I know schooling. The transition to the 11-year secondary education system will not cause big problems. We need to revise curricula, but we will do it rapidly. In the last resort, we will be providing recommendations during one year, so people should not shout that we have dug in the money pledged for printing new text-books and curricula", expressed his confidence the head of the state.
"In a year we will develop new curricula, and in two-three years will gradually change the text-books.
The transition to the 12-year secondary education system started ten years ago."
However, the backward transition to the 11-year education, to all appearances, will result in another serious reform of the education system.

El Pais: Venezuela tried to supply Belarusian weapons to Colombian rebels

Venezuela was going to supply weapons to rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) with the help of Belarus, informs Spanish daily El Pais in its article released on 10th of May.
An official visit of a Belarusian delegation headed by the Belarus Security Council Secretary Viktor Sheiman to Venezuela took place on 15-19 February.
"Sheiman was one of those who negotiated 720 million euro contracts for supply of weapons to Venezuela which were signed last year", claims the newspaper.

Belarus belongs to the countries with the highest public expenditure on education

According to the new report released in Paris by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Belarus belongs to the group of 35 countries where the Government expenditure on education accounts for 6 or more percent of the Gross National Product.

MAZ joined the Association of Automobile Manufacturers of Russia

"Minsk Automobile Plant" joined the Association of Automobile Manufacturers of Russia, informed the Director General of the Production Association "BelavtoMAZ" Nikolai Kosten.
The founders of the association are Russia's largest manufacturers including "KAMAZ", "AvtoVAZ", "UralAZ", "RusPromAvto", "Severstal-Avto". This organization deals with the development of a common industrial policy and the implementation of the concept of the Russian automobile industry development.

The Belarusian Oil Company sets up a subsidiary in London

The Belarusian oil company (BNK) opened a subsidiary company in London - BNK (UK) Ltd., informed BNK deputy director general Alexander Demidov. He noted that the subsidiary company was registered in April 2008. Its key activity will be to sell oil products to end consumers in North-Western Europe.
Belarusian Oil Company held its first trading session in petroleum products using Belneftekhim's e-trade system on June 29.

Head of MoFA of Estonia condemned the Belarus authorities for the expulsion of U.S. diplomats

"The Belarusian leadership explains this move by the wish to equalize the number of staff in Minsk and Washington embassies, but, frankly, this reason cannot be taken seriously," said Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.
He added that such a decision would in the first place be a punishment for the Belarusian people.

Lukashenko: It is time to stop experimenting with the secondary education

It is time to stop experimenting with the secondary education, declared Alexander Lukashenko in his address to the Belarusian nation and the National Assembly on April 29.

А. Lukashenko for changes in the essence of entrepreneurship in Belarus

"It is necessary to create such conditions in business environment so that each entity could have the possibility to gain as much profit as is possible thus enriching its workers and the state," noted A. Lukashenko in his address to the Belarusian nation and the National Assembly.

А. Lukashenko charges 15 high-ranking officials from the government and the presidential administration with corruption

"Today 15 high-ranking government members and officers of the presidential administration have sunk in corruption," declared the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in his traditional annual address to the Belarusian nation and the parliament.

Elections are coming soon. Insight into the future through the prism of the past

After the jump in prices, the current status of the Belarusian electorate is close to the year 2001 rather than to 2006. Therefore the results of the coming elections are not difficult to predict. The strength of habit should not be written off either. The authorities build their policy on demoralization and atomization of the society. As a result, for a person with mass consciousness it is hard to imagine a different course of events. Despite all grumbles, when given a tough choice (authorities - opposition), such people's preferences will go to a habitual bird in the hand rather than to two in the bush. "Authoritarism gains a foothold in such conditions not because it holds strong political trump cards in terms of political arguments, aims, national development programmes, but because public indifference deprives the society of its ability to resist the arbitrariness of the authorities".
In these conditions the opposition should focus its efforts not on gaining additional votes, but on the change of the quality of support from the democratic electorate. The growth in prices for energy resources has moved the needle on the economy barometer of Belarus from the mark "clear" to "dull". It will take a year for the society to feel an imminent threat, consequently there is a growing demand for an alternative vision of the developments. If opposition parties would like to have positive outcomes in the next election campaign, they must take charge of the work for meeting this demand.

The current demographic situation in post-Chernobyl Belarus is not compatible with the NPP construction plans

According to the corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus professor Ivan Nikitchenko, the country has been registering a demographic crisis since 1993. Birth rates dropped to 8.8-9.0 newborns per 100,000 population, while dearth rates increased to 14.5-14.8. The population of the country has thus decreased by more than 600,000 people over 14 years. The scientist is of the opinion that "the authorities should abandon the plans for NPP construction and direct all efforts against the threat of demographic catastrophe."

Lord Bell can apply in Belarus “Saddam Hussein’s scheme”

If Alexander Lukashenko resorts to Lord Bell, it means that "he has serious problems". Such services imply a contract price, clarifies Kseshinsky.
Lord Bell "doesn't give a damn about the country. These are not the people of Belarus who are the customer," recaps the PR agency director.

Have the nuclear power market busters already agreed on who of them would come to Belarus?

The tender for the supply of equipment for NPP construction in Belarus may turn out to be fictitious. Such an assumption was made by the Deputy Academician-Secretary of the Department of Physical-and-Technical Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Alexander Mikhalevich.

What you should know about radiation and Chernobyl tragedy

The UN report released in 2005 states that the Chernobyl disaster could cause up to about 4,000 eventual deaths. However independent experts consider that the real figure is much higher.
The number of thyroid cancer cases among children after the Chernobyl disaster has increased by 200 times. The number of breast cancers has grown sharply. Growth is predicted in urogenital tumours, lung and gastric cancers.
The Chernobyl accident released between 50 million and 250 million curies of radiation, the radioactive equivalent of at least 100 nuclear bombs.
70 % of the total radioactive fallout from the accident in 1986 descended on Belarus. About 22 % of the country is contaminated with radioactive caesium-137. The contaminated area still constitutes 21% of the territory of the republic.
When projected over a 30- year recovery period, the total damage to Belarus caused by the Chernobyl disaster comes to 240 billion US dollars. This figure was made public by the Deputy Minister of Economy Andrei Tur in 2002. This amount equals 32 Belarus' budgets of the year 1985.

European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner called upon the Belarusian authorities to release all those detained during peaceful demonstrations

The European Commission condemns the arrest and the sentencing of the youth activist Andrei Kim and nine other participants of the unsanctioned protest action of individual entrepreneurs which took place in Minsk on 10 January.
"I strongly disagree with such politically motivated arrests as they stand in direct contradiction with the values of freedom of expression and assembly that form an essential part of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law", declared B. Ferrero-Waldner.

Minsk prosecutor's office considers searches of journalists’ houses on 27-28 March a legitimate action

The Minsk prosecutor's office considers searches of journalists' houses, conducted by KGB officers on 27-28 March, a legitimate action. In his reply to the appeal from the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) the head of the investigation department of the prosecutor's office in Minsk Sergei Ivanov states that the searches "were conducted on reasonable and lawful grounds."

“Scientists for non-nuclear Belarus”: “Peaceful atom”, 'pro' (about) and contra

Until now experts and public have not been given any feasibility study for NPP construction. This contradicts the Aarhus Convention according to which each country signatory to the Convention, including Belarus, guarantees the right of access to information, participation of the public in the decision-making process and access to judicial bodies on environmental issues.
For the majority of the citizens who are familiar with the issue and have no financial interest in the construction of NPP it is obvious that Belarus does not need NPP. Furthermore, NPP is dangerous not only in ecological terms but also in terms of state security. It would be more reasonable to direct resources for modernization of industrial enterprises and Thermal Power Plants, energy saving programmes and science instead of allocating funds for a plainly ambiguous and extremely risky project of NPP construction in Belarus.

Linkage between disability and the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant will be reconsidered

Official Belarusian scientists suggest reducing the indicators for assessment of the damage inflicted on Belarus, in particular on the heath of its population.
"The list of Chernobyl-related diseases will be reduced to the reasonable minimum", said the head of laboratory of epidemiology of the Republican Research Center of Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology Vladimir Masyakin.

European Parliament has called for continued support to Belarus in rehabilitation of the regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster

The European Parliament has also urged the Belarusian government to secure social guarantees and medical assistance to the citizens who have been affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The declaration stresses that the population of the country needs clear, comprehensive and unambiguous information about the disaster and its radiation effects.

Hearings in European Parliament on post-Chernobyl situation in Belarus

On 17 April representatives of the Belarusian society take part in the hearings at the European Parliament on the post-Chernobyl situation in Belarus.
In their opinion, the reduction of humanitarian aid supplied to the country is related to the position of Belarusian authorities who claim that Belarus has no post-Chernobyl problems.

Final decision on the practicability of the 12-year school education system to be made by end of May

The final decision on the practicability of the 12-year long secondary school education will be made by the end of May 2008. To this end, Alexander Lukashenko ordered the creation of an inter-departmental commission.
The transition to the 12-year school system started 10 years ago.

Belarusian higher educational institutions must reduce the number of “chargeable” law, economics and pedagogy graduates

Belarusian higher educational institutions must reduce the number of "chargeable" law, economics and pedagogy graduates. Such an opinion was expressed by the First Deputy Minister of Education Alexander Zhuk at the republican meeting of executive secretaries of entrance commissions of higher educational institutions.
Alexander Zhuk noted that first-year student enrollment is continuously regulated.

Transformation of Belarusian enterprises into joint-stock companies to scale up in 2008

The process of transformation of Belarusian enterprises into joint-stock companies will be scaled up in 2008, announced today in Minsk the first vice-premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko.
He noted that scaling up privatization processes will make it possible to "switch over to completely different mechanisms of money attraction - bond issue, placing shares at a stock exchange".

Restoration of the Kossovo Palace in Ivatsevichi started

Experts started the restoration work of the Kossovo palace in the Ivatsevichi district of Brest region, told journalists the head of administration for protection of historical and cultural heritage and restoration of the Ministry of Culture Vasily Oblamsky.
The representative of the Ministry of Culture estimates that "it will be a large hotel and tourist complex".

The Ministry of Communications submitted a proposal to the parliament for demonopolization of the telecommunications market

The Belarus Ministry of Communications and Informatization submitted a proposal to the parliament for amendments to the law on telecommunications concerning demonopolization of the telecommunications market, told the journalists First Deputy Minister of Communications and Informatization Ivan Rak.
The First Deputy Minister specifically noted that the demonopolization of the telecommunications market is not related to possible transformation of "Beltelecom" into a joint-stock company.

Citizens of Belarus should have a possibility to travel to the EU countries “at a lower cost”, consider Member of the European Parliament and Foreign Minister of Lithuania

Citizens of Belarus should have a possibility to travel to the European Union countries "at a lower cost", consider Chairman of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Belarus Polish MP Jacek Protasiewicz and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas. On 8 April in Vilnius, they discussed the EU visa policy towards Belarus.
In their opinion, the European Parliament should undertake an initiative to try to open a broader political dialogue among EU countries "to tackle Belarus issues".

The state suspects the poor of “dependency”

There is an increasing possibility that the funds allocated for targeted social assistance to the needy citizens of Belarus will not last until the end of the current year.
In January 2008 compared with January 2007, the number of applications from the needy for state assistance from social protection bodies in Minsk increased by three times.
A positive decision on the allocation of the targeted social assistance can be taken only in cases when the average per capita family (individual) income does not exceed the objective needs criterion.
The monthly allowance is 67,200 rubles for one recipient (about 20 Euro).