Belarus Headlines

May 2 — Volume 1, Issue 8 May 16 May 16

Inside this issue Economics

Belarus President Visits Azerbaijan Belarus Finalizes Drafts of Nine Belarus President Visits Azer- Agreements with Jakarta baijan ...... 1 Belarus Finalizes Agreements Belarusian Indonesia and Belarus have finalized the with Jakarta, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 President drafts of six new agreements, namely on Alexander visa-free privileges for diplomatic and official Lukashenko passport holders, culture, trade information, Belarusian Petrolium Company made his first sciences and technology, political consulta- to Establish Its Distributor in official visit to tions and legal cooperation, during a meet- Turkey...... 1-2 Azerbaijan on ing held in Belarus late last month, the Indo- Wednesday, nesian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Belarus Gives BeltransGAZ to Russia ...... 2 bringing together the leaders of two Earlier, in 2004, the two countries also countries seeking to lessen their energy completed the drafts of three agreements, Belarus to Develop Iranian dependence on Russia. Azerbaijani Presi- namely on investment protection, technical dent Ilham Aliev said his country is seek- cooperation protocol and taxation, the min- Oilfield ...... 2 ing to diversify ways to bring its Caspian istry said. The two countries were expected Sea oil to Western markets and supports to sign all the new two-party agreements Foreign Ministry releases a plan to pump oil across Ukraine and late this year when Belarus President Alex- Report on Arms Trade. . . . 2 into Poland via the Odessa-Brody pipe- ander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Ser- line, a route that would bypass Russia. gei Martynov visit Indonesia, the ministry Mass Interrogations of "We have given our political support for said. Young Front activists . . . . . 3 this project, and now commercial issues It said both the Indonesian and Belarus dele- are being discussed," Aliev said at a news gations to the April 2007 meeting expressed Milinkevich Meets Polish conference with Lukashenko. Belarus bor- confidence that the signing of the nine President...... 3 ders Ukraine, and Lukashenko has ex- agreements would enhance mutually benefi- pressed interest receiving oil through the cial relations between the two countries. pipeline. Opposition activists Fined . . Aliev held out the prospect of energy 03/05/07 ...... 3 supplies to Belarus, saying that Belarusian Source: ANTARA news companies were interested in participating Opposition Activists Con- in oil and gas projects in Azerbaijan and Belarusian State Petrochemical gratulate Veterans on Vic- that talks would be held in a bid to flesh Industry Concern Plans to Invest tory Days...... 3-4 out cooperation plans. When Aliev visited Money in Establishment of its Dis- Belarus late last year, Lukashenko ex- Belarus Expels Evangelist pressed interest in a share in the develop- tributor in Turkey. Priest...... 4 ment of Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea oil and gas resources. The Belaru- City Government Allows Azerbaijan will produce 300 million bar- sian Belnaf- Opposition Congress . . . 4 rels of oil this year and 350 million barrels takhim plans to invest next year, Aliev said Wednesday. $210,000 in Czech Senators against Bela- In a dig at Russia, which he has accused of the establish- rus’ Membership in HR using energy as a political lever against ment of its Council ...... 5 him, Lukashenko said he was certain that distributor in cooperation with Azerbaijan "will not Turkey. The money will be provided by the Organizer of Chernobyl Rally prompt any political pressure or political Belarusian Petroleum Trading House, a Arrested...... 5 consequences, as often happens with Belnaftakhim subsidiary, according to offi- other countries." cial information sources. Dynko Gets Lorenzo Natali Prize. 02/05/2007 The yet-to-be-established company is ex- ...... 6 Source: The Associated Press pected to distribute polyester and acrylic PACE Committee on Belarus .. 6 2 Belarus Headlines

Economics fibre and cord fabrics in Turkey. Belarus to Develop Iranian Oilfield Belnaftakhim reportedly believes that the establishment National Iranian Oil Company has approved a general plan that of distribution networks abroad will help increase ex- was submitted by Belarus for the joint development of Iran's ports and remove intermediaries from foreign trade, as Jofeyr oilfield. well as conduct a single trade policy in the external A source at Belarusnafta, Belarus's state oil company, made the market. announcement in an interview with the Russian Interfax, the The Belarusian Petroleum Trading House also plans to Iranian Shana news agency reported. set up distribution companies in Lithuania, Germany, The general plan reportedly includes a paragraph about the use the Netherlands and Poland this year. of Belarusian technologies. NIOC and Belarusnafta are to start holding some talks soon on development of the oilfield. Com- 08/05/2007 menting on this joint venture, deputy managing director of Bela- Source: BelaPAN rusnafta in geological affairs Valeri Beskopilni said," Iran has sug- gested a buy-back mode for execution of the project." "Based on the terms of the deal, NIOC, as the owner of the field, will be in charge of drawing up the economic and engineering plan of the Belarus Confirms Beltransgaz to project and the Belarusian company, as the main contractor of the project, will undertake the exploration and production Be Given to Russia by June 1 phase in a specific period of time, which is likely to be eight years", he added. Gazprom” OJSC and The contractor of the project will be selling the crude oil prod- ”Beltransgaz” OJSC are ucts to NIOC in return for receiving a dividend", the official to set up a joint venture noted. Iran and Belarus signed a Memorandum of Understanding by 1 June 2007, First in 2006 for expansion of mutual cooperation in the oil sector Deputy Prime Minister and now Belarus intends to invest in the said field. Jofeyr oilfield Uladzimir Syamashka is located in Iran's southern province of Khuzestan and is ex- reported to the journal- pected to produce some 30,000 barrels per day of crude oil. ists. The joint venture is 10/05/2007 to be set up by 1 June. “Today I had a phone discus- Source: Press TV sion of the latest issues on establishing the joint ven- ture with Aleksei Miller”, V.Syamashka said. He re- marked that if in February the Russian and Belarusian Foreign Ministry Releases National Report on parties had 31 items of discrepancies, yesterday only Export Control, and Military Equipment and 2.5 issues remained. Weaponry Exports in 2006 “Today another problematic item was removed and tomorrow we are going to settle all the remaining The Belarusian foreign ministry on May 8 unveiled a national problems”, V.Syamashka said. He informed that by the report on export control, and military equipment and weap- end of May the parties are to fix the date of signing the onry exports in 2006. The ministry has compiled such reports contract of sale of the ”Beltransgaz” shares. since 2002 based on data from governmental agencies engaged What concerns the schedule of selling 50% of in export control system or foreign trade in products for mili- ”Beltransgaz” shares, as V.Semashka previously re- tary purposes. ported, USD 2.5 billion is to be paid in equal parts over the period of 4 years. “For Gazprom to start possessing 12.5% shares since 1 June 2007 it is to The report contains information about the government's activi- transfer USD 625 billion to the budget of Belarus by ties in 2006 to regulate the import and export of goods and 20 May. After that it will have possessed 12.5% of services for military purposes. In particular, it says that licenses Beltransgaz for a year. Then if Gazprom pays another for foreign trade in such goods were issued to 11 organizations USD 625 billion it will possess 25% of the company, last year. Six of those organizations had never had such licenses etc”, he explained. before. A total of 74 organizations are now licensed to engage in foreign trade in products for military purposes, primarily in Thus, if Gazprom pays a total amount of USD 2.5 bil- products of their own making. As many as 250 licenses for ex- lion by 1 June 2010 it will possess 50 % of the ports and imports were issued during the accounting period. Beltransgaz shares. 10/05/2007 10/05/2007 Source: BelaPAN Source: Charter’97 3 Belarus Headlines

Politics

Mass Interrogations of Young Front Members by Belarus KGB Young Opposition Activist The Belarus State Security Commit- them in the isolation ward in February Fined $435 tee (KGB) brings another lawsuit this year. against the Young Front. According to the press service of the Dzmitry Fedaruk, a leader of an unreg- It says that in Saligorsk the KGB staff Young Front, the actions of the KGB istered opposition youth group called officers took two youth activists, have resulted in the conclusion that the Malady Front (Young Front), was fined Rigor Astapenka and Syargei regime does not intend to stop repres- 930,000 rubels ($435) on May 3, his Tkachuk, from school to the local sions against the Young Front activists associate, Barys Haretski, told. department for interrogation. Other even after the sound court hearing of A judge of Minsk's Savetski District two activists Maksim Gamitsevich Zmitser Dashkevich's case and the Court found him guilty of organizing an and Zmitzer Yafimovich received coming court hearing of cases of the unsanctioned march during the opposi- subpoenas for the interrogations. Young Front activists Zmitser Fedaruk, tion's Charnobylski Shlyakh (Path of These lawsuits were brought by cap- Baris Garetsky, Nasta Palazhanka, Al- Chernobyl) demonstration on April 26. tain of the regional KGB Zmitser yaksei Yanusheusky and Aleg Korban Svistun who in majority of cases per- who are charged of actions on behalf of The 18-year-old Fedaruk was brought to the court from the district police sonally interrogated the youth activ- the unregistered organization. ists and made decisions on bringing department where he had appeared on criminal lawsuits. It is the same per- 04/05/2007 summons. son who ordered to detain the Source: Eurasian Secret Services Messrs. Fedaruk and Haretski, as well Young Front members and keep Daily Review as Aleh Korban, Anastasiya Palazhanka and Alyaksey Yanushewski are under criminal prosecution on charges of acting on behalf of an unregistered or- Belarusian Opposition Leader Meets with Polish President ganization under Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code, which carries a fine, a return to Belarus, as, in my opinion, jail term of up to six months or a this would improve our bilateral rela- prison sentence of up to two years. tions," Milinkevich said after the On November 1, 2006, Malady Front meeting. Henryk Litwin, who was activist Zmitser Dashkevich was sen- appointed Poland's ambassador to tenced to 18 months in a minimum- Belarus in February 2006, has not yet security correctional institution on the taken up his duties because of strained diplomatic relations between same charge. the two countries. Kaczynski report- According to Mr. Haretski, on May 2, edly assured to Milinkevich that Po- Dzmitry was questioned by Dzmitry Alyaksandr Milinkevich, chairman of land will continue its programs pro- Svistun, an investigator with the KGB the Belarusian opposition's Political viding assistance to Belarusian stu- office for Minsk and Minsk region. "As Council of Pro-democratic Forces, dents expelled from universities and Dzmitry told me, Svistun threatened met with Polish President Lech Kac- Belarusians expelled from jobs for that if he refused to cooperate, harsh zynski in Warsaw on May 4, Belapan political reasons. measures of influence would be applied reported. "We discussed the role that to him," Mr. Haretski said. Poland could play in the democratiza- 04/05/2007 tion of Belarus... I emphasized the 07/05/2007 need for the Polish ambassador to Source: BelaPAN Source: Radio Free Europe

Young Opposition Activists Present Greeting Cards, Balloons to World War II Veterans

Several dozens of young opposition activists presented greeting cards and balloons to World War II veterans during festivi- ties in Minsk's Gorky Park on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-45 Great Patriotic War. On the previous evening, more than 20 members of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Hramada" (BSDP) laid flowers 4 Belarus Headlines Politics

Young Opposition Activists Present Greeting Cards, Balloons to World War II Veterans ... at the graves of Soviet WWII sol- pants, which included members of the at the Eternal Flame on Labor Square diers at the Military Cemetery in Belarusian Party of Communists and in Homyel on May 9. According to Minsk. BSDP Deputy Chairman Ana- the Free Trade Union of Belarus, laid Vasil Palyakow, chairman of the Ho- tol Sidarevich noted that the party 62 scarlet roses and carnations at the myel regional organization of the observes the Victory Day on May 8 Eternal Flame there and observed one United , about 50 people as all nations of the anti-Hitler coali- minute's silence in memory of the participated in the ceremony. tion. defenders of the fortress. "Everything passed off well and no one On May 7, the acting chairman of the The ceremony followed a march along hindered us," Mr. Palyakow told. "But party, Anatol Lyawkovich, took part Brest's central streets, in which some some men were recording our actions in a flower-laying ceremony at the 50 people took part. on video all the time." Brest Fortress Memorial. Belarus, of Local opposition activists laid wreaths 09/05/2007 Source: BelaPAN

Belarus Expels US Evangelist City Government Allows Opposition Coalition to Hold Its Congress at Minsk Automobile Factory's The authoritarian-ruled state of Belarus expelled a US humanitarian aid worker Culture Palace on May 26, 27 because an evangelical Christian group employed him, the Belapan news agency reported on Tuesday. Decker Travis Todd had worked in the Belarusian capi- The administration of the Culture tal Minsk at a humanitarian aid agency Palace earlier refused to provide its sponsored by the a US-headquartered concert hall for the Congress, ex- branch of Protestant church. plaining that the building would be Todd was kicked out of the country "for hosting an art festival of children and activities directed towards the bringing youths with disabilities on May 26 and of harm to the national security of the 27 on the occasion of International of Belarus," according to a Child Protection Day. Minsk police statement. Belarusian authorities cancelled Todd's The Minsk City Executive Commit- The organizers also received denials visa without grounds, as his activities in tee has allowed the opposition to from the administrations of the Minsk the country centred on helping the Concert Hall, and the Palace of the poor, said Maria Savushkina, a church hold its second Congress of Pro- democratic Forces at the Culture Republic, which also said that the member. Palace of the Minsk Automobile premises would be occupied on those Belarus authoritarian government in Factory (MAZ) on May 26 and 27. dates. recent months has targeted foreign- financed religious organizations as a po- tential threat, often claiming the groups According to the press office of the “I guess that the MAZ Palace of Culture are fronts for Western spy agencies. United Civic Party (UCP), in a writ- will now prove vacant because the Presi- Belarusian President Alexander Luka- ten reply received by UCP Deputy dential Administration appears to have shenko has repeatedly linked Western Chairman Ihar Shynkaryk on May given its consent," Mr. Shynkaryk told aid to groups in Georgia and Ukraine for 15, Eduard Tamilchyk, head of the BelaPAN. According to him, Alyak- those two states' pro-democracy Rose Committee's organization and legal sandr Bukhvostaw, chairman of the and Orange revolutions in the last five affairs department, said that the organizing committee for the Con- years. He has vowed a "coloured revolu- organizers should sign a rent con- gress, will contact the administration tion" will not take place in Belarus, citing tract with the administration of the of the Palace on May 16. Culture Palace and discuss the pro- a need "to preserve stability." gram of the event and issues con- 15/05/2007 cerning public order with the city 15/05/2007 Source: Earthtimes.org police department. Source: BelaPAN 5 Belarus Headlines

Politics

Czech Senators Say Belarus Must not Enter U.N. Human Rights Council

Czech representatives to the Former Czech president Vaclav Havel, too, recently con- U.N. should actively prevent demned Belarus' candidacy for membership of the coun- Belarus from succeeding cil, which is the U.N.'s main body for human rights pro- with its candidacy for U.N. tection. Human Rights Council mem- The international community has criticised the authori- bership, the Czech Senate tarian regime of Belarusian President Alexandr Luka- commission on support to shenko for a long time. the Belarusian democratic The , like other countries, helps Belarus- opposition agreed today. sian dissidents and it has admitted for university studies Vlastimil Sehnal, the commission head, told CTK that he several dozens of Belarusian students persecuted by the has already discussed the issue with Czech PM Mirek To- regime at home. polanek (both Civic Democrats, ODS). The Czech Senate commission wants to address Czech Deputy PM Alexandr Vondra (ODS) and Foreign Minister "It is important to be united," Sehnal said. Karel Schwarzenberg (for the Greens) to discuss the The U.N. Human Rights Council in the past repeatedly possible lifting of the Czech visa fee from Belarusian stu- condemned the Belarusian regime for violation of funda- dents, Sehnal said. mental freedoms. It called on the Belarusian government to stop persecuting NGOs, political parties, unions, inde- 16/05/2007 pendent media, religious organisations and people promot- Source: Prague Daily Monitor ing human rights and democracy.

Milinkevich to Take Floor at Organizer of Opposition's Chernobyl Anniversary March Arrested in the Congress of Democratic Minsk Forces

Yury Zyankovich, one of the organizers Chairman of the Political Council of of the opposition's April 26 Charnobyl- Democratic Forces of Belarus Alyak- ski Shlyakh demonstration, was arrested sandr Milinkevich announced yester- and charged with a minor civil offence day in the evening that he was cer- tainly to take the floor at the Con- on May 16. gress of Democratic Forces that is to The charge against member of the Bela- be held 26-27 May in Minsk. A. Mil- rusian Popular Front dates back to the inkevich, who is presently in London last month's authorized demonstration on the invitation of the Foreign Office and is based on testimony by a road The organizers of the march initially of Great Britain, disapproved the in- police officer who said that the crowd formation about him ignoring the had left the sidewalk and entered the wanted it to start on the Yakub Kolas Square at 6 p.m. and walk on side- Congress. “I shall participate in the roadway while moving along Surhanava Congress. I will certainly express my Street, obstructing traffic, Mr. Zyank- walks along Minsk's main avenue to the square in front of the National viewpoint on the situation. But I con- ovich, told. Library, where a rally would begin at 8 sider it to be a great step back if the Congress is not going to elect a Chair- "I explained to police officers at the o’clock. Savetski district police department that I man of the Political Council. I have had called on the demonstrators to walk The city government rejected the always been insisting that this fact is route, suggesting that the march on the sidewalk," he added. very important for demonstration of should start on the square in front of our unity and for influencing the pub- The Minsk City Court has yet to hear the National Academy of Sciences and lic. If we are going to fight the dicta- Mr. Zyankovich's complaint about the run on sidewalks along Surhanava torship with the round table that is city authorities' decision to ban Charno- Street to Peoples' Friendship Park not clear to the public, I will not apply bylski Shlyakh participants from march- near Bangalore Square. for co-chairmanship, but I will partici- ing along the Independence Avenue to the National Library, a route originally 16/05/2007 pate in the Congress”. planned by the organizers of the annual Source: Charter’97 demonstration. 16/05/2007 Source: Svaboda.org 6 Belarus Headlines

EU and Belarus

Belarusian Journalist Receives Lorenzo Natali Prize

The editor of the Belarusian independent electronic 2006 took place on newspaper http://www.nn.by, Andrej Dynko, is win- Thursday, May 3rd, in ner of the Lorenzo Natali prize for 2006. This is an Brussels and gathered international prize for journalists from all over the together 15 the prize world who write articles on democracy promotion winners, various human and human rights struggle. Mr. Dynko has become rights defenders, journal- the first journalist from the central Europe to get it. ists, the jury members Andrej Dynko was nominated to this award for his and guest of the event. “Prison Diary”, which he wrote in jail in March 2006. The prize winners are: The article was published in the Belarusian inde- Massoud Ansari (Pakistan), Mohammad Ben Hussein pendent newspaper “Nasha Niva” even before the (Jordania), Maria Paz Cuevas (Chile), Andrej Dynko author was released; later, it was translated into 8 (Biélarus), Talal El-Atrache (Syria), Tanya Farber (South Af- languages and published in international press. rica), Lucky George (Nigéria), Syed Shoaib Hassan In 2006, there were more than 1529 applications (Pakistan), Mario Kaiser (Deutchland), Mauri Konig (Brasil), from 165 countries all over the world for the Siew Ying Leu (China), Robert Mugagga (Ouganda), Maria Lorenzo Natali Prize. Teresa Ronderos Torres (Colombia), Michael Tierney In order to define winners, the jury goes through 3 (Scotland), Aijaz ZakaSyed (India). stages of decision-making. During the first one, Andrej Dynko got the second prize in the European region every paper is read by students (this time the stu- for his “Prison Diary”. It is his 4th international award. When dents of high school of journalism in Berlin) who receiving the prize, Mr. Dynko said: “There is a kind of irony select 50 best works. After that, the selected articles in my imprisonment experience. The building where I spent are considered by a special jury consisting of profes- my term has been constructed with the sponsorship of the sional journalists from five continents and professors TACIS program. And now I am here, in the Commission of journalism and human rights defenders. This year premises, getting the EU prize. It was cold there, in prison, the jury was chaired by one of the well-known CNN smoky and noisy. We were 9 people with only 5 beds to presenters, Femi Oke. share. I was able to write during nights. I am glad that read- ers understood what Belarusians are going through”. The awarding ceremony of the Lorenzo Natali Prize

PACE Committee: Belarus Does not Belong to the UN Human Rights Council

Strasbourg, 14.05.2007 – The presentation of Bela- Belarus is the only European country which is not a mem- rus as an unopposed candidate for the UN Human ber of the Council of Europe. Rights Council is “nothing less than scandalous” The election of new members to the UN Human Rights given Belarus’ dismal human rights record, accord- ing to a statement approved today by the Commit- Council is scheduled for 17 May 2007. tee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Coun- In its statement, the committee urges the UN General cil of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). Assembly to reject Belarus’ candidacy and calls on the Assembly’s regional groups to abandon the tactic of “clean In its statement, the committee urges the UN Gen- slates” – where only as many candidates are presented as eral Assembly to reject Belarus’ candidacy and calls there are seats to be filled – thus ensuring a genuine on the Assembly’s regional groups to abandon the tactic of “clean slates” – where only as many candi- choice in the election. dates are presented as there are seats to be filled – thus ensuring a genuine choice in the election. 14/05/2007 Source: Coe.int