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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
November 18, 2004
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NATIONAL NEWS
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President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Signs Decision Taken at Nationwide Republican Referendum on October 17
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Signs Decision Taken at Nationwide Republican Referendum on October 17
In the course of the referendum the Belarusian people allowed first President Alexander Lukashenko to take part in the presidential elections and to amend the Constitution.
On November 17, Alexander Lukashenko signed the decision taken at the nationwide referendum on October 17.
Alexander Lukashenko: “Belarus Democracy Act” Is Interference in the Internal Affairs of Belarus
“Belarus Democracy Act” adopted in the USA is pure interference in the internal affairs of Belarus. This document directed against the Belarusian people should be canceled, stated President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko delivering his speech in the Oval Hall of the House of Government after the ceremony of signing the decision taken at the republican referendum.
Speaking about the results of the nationwide referendum, the president noted: “If the opposition has any realistic and promising ideas, they should, first of all, recognize positive achievements in the Belarusian modern history and, secondly, condemn the challenges of Western countries against Belarus”.
Alexander Lukashenko: Adoption of Belarusian Children by Foreigners Is Belarus’ Disgrace that should be Eliminated
Adoption of Belarusian children by foreigners is Belarus’ disgrace, that should be eliminated, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated after the ceremony in the Oval Hall of the House of Government.
“Our children should be brought up and educated in Belarus”. “Adoption by foreigners should be maximally reduced”, the President noted.
The Belarusian leader is convinced that the recuperation abroad of Belarusian children who suffer from the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe should be limited. “If foreign countries are eager to help, they can allocate the necessary funds and control their use here. Belarusian people should recuperate in the republic. We have all necessary conditions for it”, the President noted.
Alexander Lukashenko Declares It Necessary to Eliminate Human Trafficking
The work on the elimination of human trafficking should be systematic and should be done jointly by law enforcement agencies, Parliament and local authorities, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated.
The President called the elimination of human trafficking one of the most urgent issues on the agenda of the fight against crime. According to him, the world faces this problem together with illegal migration, illegal drugs turnover and terrorism. “We cannot allow our young people to be an article of trade”, the Belarusian leader underlined.
Alexander Lukashenko is convinced that the fight against human trafficking will be effective only if all efforts aimed at preventing this phenomenon are combined. He considers that, firstly, it is necessary to inform the youth about this problem and, secondly, to give young people an opportunity for their self-realization.
Elections of Top Leadership in the Belarusian Parliament
Vladimir Konoplev was elected Chair of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus at the first plenary meeting on November 16. Earlier Vladimir Konoplev held the post of the Deputy Chair of the Lower Chamber of the Belarusian Parliament.
Sergei Zabolotets was elected Deputy Chair of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus.
Gennadiy Novitskiy was re-elected Chair of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of
Belarus (the Upper Chamber).
Former Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Alexander Abramovich was elected Vice Speaker of the Upper Chamber of the Belarusian Parliament.
The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly also elected heads of its standing commissions.
Belarus Population Makes 9,812,900 People
As of October 1, 2004 the population in Belarus was of 9,812,900 people, 36,200 people less compared with the beginning of 2004.
Belarus carries its main migration exchange with Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Immigrants from these countries account for 84% of all people who arrive from the CIS and Baltic countries.
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
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Belarus' Decision at the UN
(By Larry Fine, Reuters)
UNITED NATIONS - After giving the United States a taste of its own diplomatic medicine, Belarus on Tuesday withdrew a draft U.N. General Assembly resolution attacking Washington on its human rights record.
Belarus, smarting over a draft resolution co-sponsored by the United States criticizing the conduct of its parliamentary elections in October, drafted its own human rights critique pointing out controversies over recent U.S. elections and U.S. rights abuses under the Patriot Act.
"Our main goal was only to show that any country in the world may be accused like this," said Alej
Ivanou, the deputy U.N. ambassador from Belarus, told Reuters.
Ivanou said Belarus presented the resolution, which he believed to be the first such U.N. human rights complaint leveled against the United States, to make a point for less powerful nations.
"This draft resolution was to demonstrate to the international community with hard facts that no country in the world, including the most mature of democracies, is immune from human rights problems," the Belarus Mission to the United Nations said in a statement.
Small nations at the U.N. often complain about so-called "country resolutions" criticizing their record on human rights, which they claim often exaggerate their abuses and are used to exert political pressure.
Ivanou said there had been positive reaction to the Belarus resolution and that other countries had been interested in joining in the tilt against superpower United States.
"About six delegates asked me to put them in as co-sponsors," he said. "But that was not our goal."
Ivanou said he did not expect the United States to withdraw its resolution, but said Belarus would not be bullied.
"We will not keep silent. We will not agree with such political pressure," said the diplomat, stressing that Belarus reserved the right to reintroduce its resolution targeting the United States at a later date.
Belarus’ Upper House Passes Bill on Foreign Trade Protective Measures
The Council of the Republic of the Belarusian Parliament passed the bill on protection of the country’s economic interests in foreign trade, which aims at meeting WTO accession requirements.
The bill delimits the notions of special protective, antidumping and compensation measures, and specifies the aims and simplifies the procedure of termination and extension of antidumping investigations.
Belarus’ Upper Chamber Passes Foreign Trade Control Bill
The Council of the Republic, passed the new version of the law on state regulation of foreign trade, which meets the requirements of the
WTO.
The bill provides for four methods of state regulation of foreign trade, including customs and tariff, non-tariff regulation, restrictions in trade in goods, services and intellectual property and foreign trade development measures.
Among the WTO requirements are a ban to backdate regulatory acts, collect an
interest from the contract as transaction costs and fix various tax rates
depending on the country of origin.
The bill is to resolve numerous problems of Belarus’ producers, help the
country receive the advantages of WTO standards and integration processes.
It is expected that WTO accession talks might be completed by late 2006 or early 2007.
Belarus’ Upper Chamber Ratifies UN Anti-Corruption Convention
The Council of Republic ratified the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention.
“The Convention has not come into effect so far. It has been ratified by only 11 countries of the 113 states that signed it. The document will come into effect 90 days after the UN receives the 30th ratification instrument,” said Chairman of the Upper House’s International Affairs and National Security Commission Nikolai
Cherginets.
The implementation of the convention will enable extradition and criminal prosecution without agreements on mutual assistance in the sector.
The Anti-Corruption Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 31, 2003. The Convention was signed by 113 countries and ratified by 11 states as of now. Belarus signed the Convention on April 28, 2004.
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
On Growth of Belarusian GDP in January-October
In January-September 2004 Belarusian GDP grew by 11.1%. Over the period industrial output went up by 16.1%, and agricultural, by 11.6%. Fixed-capital investments grew by 8.2%. The output of consumer goods increased by 12.5%, including foods, by 13.3%, non-foods, by 12.2%.
In January-September 2004 foreign trade (including trade of services) went up by 32.6%, exports, by 32.1%, and imports, by 33.1%.
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CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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14th International Festival “Slavic Bazaar in
Vitebsk” to Take Place 14-20 July 2005
The 14th International Festival “Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk” will take place on 14-20 July 2005.
The festival will be connected with next year’s historical event, the 60th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War.
Minsk Hosted Festival of Foreign Students
The festival of foreign students was held in Belarus on November 17-20.
The event united students of 25 countries from 18 universities. The festivity was related to the International Student’s Day. The action was aimed at establishing better communication between the nations. It embraced the presentation of student mass media, round table conference on intercultural relations and the contest on programs. The countries also presented their national cuisine.
Belarus hosts 4.5 thousand students from the CIS, the Baltic States and foreign countries.
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