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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
October 27, 2004
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NATIONAL NEWS
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Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus
on Signing into Law the Belarus Democracy Act
President of the United States George Bush has signed. This
clearly unfriendly step can't help causing profound regret. The
responsibility for complicating bilateral relations will fully rest with the
United States.
The Act is based on primordially wrong conceptions on the objectives and
contents of foreign and domestic policies of the Republic of Belarus.
Declaring the protection of sovereignty and independence of Belarus as the
objective of the Act, the American authorities have in fact rejected the
aspiration of the people of Belarus to create a stable sovereign state where
personal freedom of citizens is organically combined with ensuring social
justice.
The evident and substantial positive contribution made by the Republic of
Belarus to ensure global and European security and stability is not taken
into consideration. The actions of the US administration have recently ever
more clearly been aimed at deliberately aggravating relations with the
Republic of Belarus and encouraging its allies to act likewise.
The statement by the US President in connection with the signing of the Act
is also rooted in the cold war spirit of confrontational approaches. It
alleges undemocratic character of the elections to the House of
Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and of
the nationwide referendum. Numerous foreign observers have affirmed that
both the elections and the referendum were held in Belarus in full
conformity with international standards. The leadership of Belarus has acted
and will continue to act in domestic policies within the framework of
democratic principles to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens and to
further the well-being of the Belarusian people.
We consider the Act on Belarus as violating the United Nations Declaration
on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal
Affairs of States of 9 December 1981 and the obligations undertaken by the
United States under the Memorandum of Security Assurances in connection with
the Republic of Belarus Accession to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons of 5 December 1994.
The Republic of Belarus will continue to aspire for equal mutually
beneficial relations in international affairs; however, we reject any
attempts of diktat and pressure from the United States. In the present
situation, the Belarusian side reserves the right to take reciprocal steps.
Minsk, 21 October 2004
The Russia Duma Made a Statement on the Parliamentary
Elections and the Referendum in Belarus
The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation made a statement on the outcome of observing the preparation and
holding of the elections to the House of Representatives of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the third convocation and of the
nationwide referendum.
The statement says, in particular, that "the State Duma Deputies, delegated
as observers, noticed, that:
- The Legislation of the Republic of Belarus, which regulates election and
referendum procedures, complies with international standards;
- Election and referendum commissions of all levels were organized on the
basis of broad participation of political parties and other public
organizations, production collectives, and citizens;
- Registration of candidates to deputies was carried out without serious
infringements, whereas mistakes, made by district voting commissions, were
largely corrected by the Central Commission.
On the election day all polling stations, where observers were present, were
opened in time. According to observers, voting process was conducted in an
organized manner in compliance with the national legislation requirements.
All necessary conditions were set up for equal and free will expression by
the citizens of Belarus through secret voting.
Elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Belarus were mainly conducted on the alternative basis. There
was wide representation of different social and political groups and strata
of the society. 330 candidates were registered to run for 110 seats in the
Parliament.
High turnout of voters at the elections and the nationwide referendum
reflects great interest and responsibility of the Belarusian citizens for
the destiny of their country.
Deputies of the State Duma, seconded as observers, consider October 17, 2004
elections of the deputies to the 3rd House of Representatives of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the nationwide referendum
to be open, free, democratic and legitimate."
(You may find the full text of the Statement at
http://www.belarusembassy.org/news/digests/102504.htm).
Statement of Press-Secretary of the MFA of Belarus in
Connection with Earthquake in Japan
On October 23, 2004 in the central and north-western parts of
the central Japanese island Honshu happened a series of powerful earthquakes
that caused considerable damage, the death of 23 and injuries to about 2300
people. The news about the natural disaster and its terrible consequences
was received with deep sorrow in the Republic of Belarus. The Ministry for
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus expresses condolences to the
friends and relatives of the deceased.
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
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Alexander Lukashenko visits Kiev
On October 27, the working visit of Belarusian President
Alexander Lukashenko to Ukraine started. President of Belarus together with
the presidents of Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan laid a wreath at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier in the "Park of Glory" memorial complex in Kiev. The
Belarusian leader is on a working visit in Kiev to participate in solemn
ceremonies dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Ukraine
from the Nazis.
Ukraine is one of the main trade partners of Belarus. In 2003 Ukraine took
the 5th place in the foreign trade turnover of Belarus. In January-August of
2004 the trade turnover between the two states made more than $681mln and
increased by 54% compared with a similar period of 2003. The Belarusian
export increased by 56% and made more than $334mln.
On Visit of Belarusian Foreign Minister
to Latin American
From October 25 till November 1, 2004 an official Belarusian
delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affaires Sergey Martynov visits
Brazil, Argentina and Cuba.
In the course of official meetings in Argentina and Brazil the sides plan to
focus on urgent issues of international cooperation, mechanisms and ways of
establishing large-scale political dialogue on highest and top levels.
Belarus and Argentina are expected to sign Bilateral Intergovernmental
Agreements on trade and economic cooperation, and Agreements on cooperation
between foreign ministries. An Agreement on cooperation between Chambers of
Commerce is planned to be signed.
Agreement on Cooperation between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and Belarusian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce of San-Paulu state is
expected to be signed.
During the Ministerial visit to Cuba the sides will consider key issues on
the international agenda, the bilateral and multilateral cooperation within
the framework of the UN, Non-Aligned Movement and other international
forums. Attention will be paid to new mechanisms of extending trade and
economic relations as well as scientific technical cooperation. Belarusian
and Cuban foreign ministers are supposed to sign a Memorandum of Intentions
in the Sphere of Political Cooperation between two countries and
Consultations between Foreign Ministries in 2005-2006.
Minsk to Host International Conference
"Legal Informatization-2004"
The second international conference "Information Technologies
and Law: Legal Informatization-2004" will take place in Minsk on October
28-29. The conference is arranged by the National Legal Information Center
under the support of UNESCO.
The participants to the conference will elaborate proposals on the
development of legal information systems, enhancement of legal
informatization and international exchange of legal information. Experts
will also discuss the implementation of UNESCO recommendations in the
national legislation.
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
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On First Issue of Journal "Economy of
Belarus"
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance in
cooperation with the Belarusian news agency "BelTA" have established new
journal "Economy of Belarus".
Head of the editorial board, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorskiy in
address to the readers notes that the task of the new edition is to cover
the developments in economy, to provide information-analytical material to
the state government bodies, ministries, departments, companies, law-makers
and to acquaint potential investors with Belarusian economic developments.
The theme which goes through the first issue is the indices of the national
economy this year, the analysis of factors and reserves which will allow for
the implementation of the most important parameters of the social and
economic development forecast.
The journal's authors include ministers, diplomats, scientists and
journalists of the Belarusian news agency BelTA. It also has a modern
design, many illustrations, tables and diagrams.
The journal will be published in Russian and English. The subscription is
announced for 2005.
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CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University Marks 50th
Anniversary
Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University celebrates its 50th
anniversary on October 22.
The education establishment had its first 60 graduates in 1954. Within the
past 50 years it has educated over 30.5 thousand experts in agriculture,
including 700 foreign students.
At
present the University consists of 6 departments and teaches students in 8
professions and 12 specializations.
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