Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1040
2005-09-02 14:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - August 31, 2005
how-toVZCZCXRO8027 RR RUEHCD RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE DE RUEHSK #1040/01 2451438 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021438Z SEP 05 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2904 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 001040
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - August 31, 2005
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 001040
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - August 31, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
2. Parliamentarians Extremely Critical of USG Response to
Hurricane Katrina
On September 1, Chairman of the Commission for International
Affairs and National Security of the Upper Chamber of
Parliament Nikolai Cherginets condemned American efforts at
coping with the crisis caused by hurricane Katrina in New
Orleans. Cherginets asserted that the Bush Administration
is clearly unable to handle emergency situations, as
evidenced by the thousands of unevacuated residents of New
Orleans, the lack of food and clean water, and the bodies
visible floating down the flooded streets. According to
Cherginets, this situation will prevent Bush being re-
elected for a third term. Sergei Kostyan of the Lower
Chamber of Parliament stated that "the American regime is
rotten". However, the GOB announced that it is willing to
help the U.S. through this difficult time, and Lukashenko
expressed his condolences to President Bush. On September
2, GOB officials on two occasions opened meetings with CDA
by expressing condolences.
3. Travel to Syria
On August 24, Belarus and Syria signed an agreement on
visa-free travel between the two countries for
Belarusian and Syrian holders of diplomatic and official
passports. Ruslan Yesin, spokesman for the Belarusian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the agreement will
increase the number of exchanges of official
delegations.
4. Never Lose Ukraine
On August 28, after meeting with Ukrainian President
Yushchenko, Lukashenko admitted that there are problems
between Belarus and Ukraine, but assured that the
relationship will never sour. The presidents are ready
to solve bilateral problems and bring the countries
closer together. Yushchenko agreed to draw up possible
solutions to Belarus-Poland tensions. Yushchenko and
Lukashenko also discussed easing border crossing
formalities and Belarus' role in seaport construction on
the Crimea.
5. More Money in Russia, More Economic Equality in
Belarus
On August 25, newspaper Pravda reported that average pay
in Russia is higher than in Belarus, but that Belarusian
social stratification is less than Russian. Experts say
that this is partly due to the GOB's avoidance of "shock
therapy" after the fall of communism and their refusal
to accept privatization and a market economy. The World
Bank underlined the instability of Belarus' economic
growth, citing high production costs, government
regulations, an underdeveloped banking sector and a lack
of foreign reserves.
6. Indian Trade Show
On August 26, Emboffs attended the opening ceremony of a
four-day trade show in Minsk highlighting Indian goods.
The Indian Embassy and the Confederation of Indian
Industry hosted the event. The Indian Charge d'Affaires
and the Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister praised their
mutual political support, but lamented low trade levels.
Exhibits included tea sellers, instant rice producers,
bicycles and hand tool companies.
7. North Korean Nukes Are Bad
On August 30, during a trip to South Korea, the Chairman
of the Belarusian Council of the Republic Gennady
Novitsky announced that the GOB is concerned over North
Korea's nuclear program. He believes that success of
the six-party talks depends on participants' abilities
to align their positions based on the UN's principle of
sovereign equality for all countries.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
8. Activist Fined
MINSK 00001040 002 OF 003
On August 30, judge Nikolai Senko of Brest fined the pro-
democracy Party of Belarusian Communists (PBC) activist
Anatoly Novik USD 475 for holding an unauthorized
meeting. The PBC held the July 9 meeting to select
candidates to the single candidate national congress.
Novik plans to appeal the fine, arguing that the BPC is
entitled to hold scheduled meetings in its office and
that the judge violated the law by not allowing Novik to
record the trial.
--------------
Economics
--------------
9. Belarus May Cooperate
On August 25, International Trade Center (ITC)
representative Daniel Ivarsson announced that the ITC
plans to work with the National Marketing and Price
Center to develop Belarusian exports and raise the
competitive capacity of Belarusian products abroad.
Ivarsson commented that Belarus already relies on the
ITC for information about the condition of foreign
markets and foreign trade rules.
10. No More Corruption
On August 25, Lukashenko spoke out against corrupt
officials, saying that bribery and other economic crimes
damage the government and cause economic damage to the
country as a whole. He noted that Belarus has a lower
rate of economic crime and corruption than neighboring
countries, but this is still too much. He warned that
corrupt government officials will be severely punished.
11. Tax Reduction
On August 30, the Council of Ministers announced plans
to reduce the overall tax burden on economic entities by
0.8 percent. In accordance with new draft legislation,
on January 1, banks must adopt uniform rules of profit
tax collection, and the GOB will annul excise duty on
crude oil and fuel sales taxes.
--------------
Education
--------------
12. Curb the Youth's Initiative
On August 27, Minsk Mayor Mikhail Pavlov demanded that
administrators of schools keep students out of politics.
He continued that "young people are easy to get involved
in political processes, but that directors and rectors
must do everything possible to avoid that."
13. The More Propaganda, The Better
On August 30, Education Minister Aleksandr Radkov
announced that the Ministry will provide first-grade
pupils with the textbook "My Motherland Belarus" as a
gift from the President. Lukashenko finds this to be an
"interesting textbook on Belarusian state ideology".
The Ministry will prepare similar textbooks for older
students.
--------------
Anti-US
--------------
14. U.S. Instigates Anti-Belarus Poland
On August 26, pro-government weekly Obozrevatel asserted
that the U.S. caused Poland's anti-Belarusian actions.
Anton Ksenov stated that, "it's not a secret to anyone
that the U.S. is helping Poland in all aspects."
According to Ksenov, the U.S. is using Poland as a
conduit or implementer of American democratic principles
in CIS countries.
15. No Americans in Belarus
On August 29, state daily Narodnaya Gazeta speculated
that Americans may be blocked from entering Belarus
prior to the presidential elections. Anatoly Gridnev
says this is due to U.S. Ambassador Krol's statements
that the USG will provide funds for election
observation. Gridnev asserts that this is now illegal
under the new presidential decree on foreign assistance.
MINSK 00001040 003 OF 003
--------------
Miscellaneous
--------------
16. Stalin, Come On Down
On August 30, Russian TV reported on efforts in Svislach
to restore decorations with Stalin's name and include
his bust in the alley of heroes. Authorities say the
returning, and even adding, of Stalin to the facades of
buildings and historical monuments is not ideology, but
is the resurrection of history for the memory of the
people. On one building, Stalin's name now appears 15
times, when originally it was not on the building at
all.
17. "You Will Win"
On August 25, Lukashenko announced that Belarusian
athletes are able to win at least eight medals in the
2008 Beijing Olympics. He said that the state supports
all sports and warned athletes not to complain about
"poor conditions" because the Soviet team always "shone
in the international arena" and the state of their
sports fields were no better than current ones.
18. Only State Modeling Agency Receives License
On August 30, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced
that only the state-run modeling agency successfully
obtained a new license after Lukashenko's decree on
slave trade and trafficking. Out of 18 modeling
schools, only the National Beauty School met conditions
of specialized educational facilities and highly
educated staff. All other agencies failed to register.
For example, the MoE denied a license to the Sergei
Nagorny Fashion Studio and recommended that the Studio
introduce law, economy, computer and psychology to its
syllabus, then reapply.
19. Overrun by Beavers...We Think
On August 30, Dr. Petr Kozlo of the Zoology Institute
declared that the beaver population of Belarus has
outgrown its optimal level. He said environmentalists
have not counted the beavers for at least ten years, but
that there could be up to 45,000 beavers. Kozlo blamed
the alleged beaver explosion on new fashion trends,
which have made fur less popular. He suggested forcibly
reducing the quantity of beavers by 15 percent in the
next two years.
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
20. On August 25, press secretary of the Union State
Ivan Makushok criticized plans of Poland, Ukraine,
Latvia and Lithuania to coordinate their policies on
Belarus.
"This is the development of the crusade against
President Lukashenko and against Moscow, which started
in Georgia, went to Ukraine, and now Belarus is on the
way. But such a compact and stable state as Belarus
would be welcome in the EU, if compared to the uneasy
Ukraine."
Phlipot
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - August 31, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
2. Parliamentarians Extremely Critical of USG Response to
Hurricane Katrina
On September 1, Chairman of the Commission for International
Affairs and National Security of the Upper Chamber of
Parliament Nikolai Cherginets condemned American efforts at
coping with the crisis caused by hurricane Katrina in New
Orleans. Cherginets asserted that the Bush Administration
is clearly unable to handle emergency situations, as
evidenced by the thousands of unevacuated residents of New
Orleans, the lack of food and clean water, and the bodies
visible floating down the flooded streets. According to
Cherginets, this situation will prevent Bush being re-
elected for a third term. Sergei Kostyan of the Lower
Chamber of Parliament stated that "the American regime is
rotten". However, the GOB announced that it is willing to
help the U.S. through this difficult time, and Lukashenko
expressed his condolences to President Bush. On September
2, GOB officials on two occasions opened meetings with CDA
by expressing condolences.
3. Travel to Syria
On August 24, Belarus and Syria signed an agreement on
visa-free travel between the two countries for
Belarusian and Syrian holders of diplomatic and official
passports. Ruslan Yesin, spokesman for the Belarusian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the agreement will
increase the number of exchanges of official
delegations.
4. Never Lose Ukraine
On August 28, after meeting with Ukrainian President
Yushchenko, Lukashenko admitted that there are problems
between Belarus and Ukraine, but assured that the
relationship will never sour. The presidents are ready
to solve bilateral problems and bring the countries
closer together. Yushchenko agreed to draw up possible
solutions to Belarus-Poland tensions. Yushchenko and
Lukashenko also discussed easing border crossing
formalities and Belarus' role in seaport construction on
the Crimea.
5. More Money in Russia, More Economic Equality in
Belarus
On August 25, newspaper Pravda reported that average pay
in Russia is higher than in Belarus, but that Belarusian
social stratification is less than Russian. Experts say
that this is partly due to the GOB's avoidance of "shock
therapy" after the fall of communism and their refusal
to accept privatization and a market economy. The World
Bank underlined the instability of Belarus' economic
growth, citing high production costs, government
regulations, an underdeveloped banking sector and a lack
of foreign reserves.
6. Indian Trade Show
On August 26, Emboffs attended the opening ceremony of a
four-day trade show in Minsk highlighting Indian goods.
The Indian Embassy and the Confederation of Indian
Industry hosted the event. The Indian Charge d'Affaires
and the Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister praised their
mutual political support, but lamented low trade levels.
Exhibits included tea sellers, instant rice producers,
bicycles and hand tool companies.
7. North Korean Nukes Are Bad
On August 30, during a trip to South Korea, the Chairman
of the Belarusian Council of the Republic Gennady
Novitsky announced that the GOB is concerned over North
Korea's nuclear program. He believes that success of
the six-party talks depends on participants' abilities
to align their positions based on the UN's principle of
sovereign equality for all countries.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
8. Activist Fined
MINSK 00001040 002 OF 003
On August 30, judge Nikolai Senko of Brest fined the pro-
democracy Party of Belarusian Communists (PBC) activist
Anatoly Novik USD 475 for holding an unauthorized
meeting. The PBC held the July 9 meeting to select
candidates to the single candidate national congress.
Novik plans to appeal the fine, arguing that the BPC is
entitled to hold scheduled meetings in its office and
that the judge violated the law by not allowing Novik to
record the trial.
--------------
Economics
--------------
9. Belarus May Cooperate
On August 25, International Trade Center (ITC)
representative Daniel Ivarsson announced that the ITC
plans to work with the National Marketing and Price
Center to develop Belarusian exports and raise the
competitive capacity of Belarusian products abroad.
Ivarsson commented that Belarus already relies on the
ITC for information about the condition of foreign
markets and foreign trade rules.
10. No More Corruption
On August 25, Lukashenko spoke out against corrupt
officials, saying that bribery and other economic crimes
damage the government and cause economic damage to the
country as a whole. He noted that Belarus has a lower
rate of economic crime and corruption than neighboring
countries, but this is still too much. He warned that
corrupt government officials will be severely punished.
11. Tax Reduction
On August 30, the Council of Ministers announced plans
to reduce the overall tax burden on economic entities by
0.8 percent. In accordance with new draft legislation,
on January 1, banks must adopt uniform rules of profit
tax collection, and the GOB will annul excise duty on
crude oil and fuel sales taxes.
--------------
Education
--------------
12. Curb the Youth's Initiative
On August 27, Minsk Mayor Mikhail Pavlov demanded that
administrators of schools keep students out of politics.
He continued that "young people are easy to get involved
in political processes, but that directors and rectors
must do everything possible to avoid that."
13. The More Propaganda, The Better
On August 30, Education Minister Aleksandr Radkov
announced that the Ministry will provide first-grade
pupils with the textbook "My Motherland Belarus" as a
gift from the President. Lukashenko finds this to be an
"interesting textbook on Belarusian state ideology".
The Ministry will prepare similar textbooks for older
students.
--------------
Anti-US
--------------
14. U.S. Instigates Anti-Belarus Poland
On August 26, pro-government weekly Obozrevatel asserted
that the U.S. caused Poland's anti-Belarusian actions.
Anton Ksenov stated that, "it's not a secret to anyone
that the U.S. is helping Poland in all aspects."
According to Ksenov, the U.S. is using Poland as a
conduit or implementer of American democratic principles
in CIS countries.
15. No Americans in Belarus
On August 29, state daily Narodnaya Gazeta speculated
that Americans may be blocked from entering Belarus
prior to the presidential elections. Anatoly Gridnev
says this is due to U.S. Ambassador Krol's statements
that the USG will provide funds for election
observation. Gridnev asserts that this is now illegal
under the new presidential decree on foreign assistance.
MINSK 00001040 003 OF 003
--------------
Miscellaneous
--------------
16. Stalin, Come On Down
On August 30, Russian TV reported on efforts in Svislach
to restore decorations with Stalin's name and include
his bust in the alley of heroes. Authorities say the
returning, and even adding, of Stalin to the facades of
buildings and historical monuments is not ideology, but
is the resurrection of history for the memory of the
people. On one building, Stalin's name now appears 15
times, when originally it was not on the building at
all.
17. "You Will Win"
On August 25, Lukashenko announced that Belarusian
athletes are able to win at least eight medals in the
2008 Beijing Olympics. He said that the state supports
all sports and warned athletes not to complain about
"poor conditions" because the Soviet team always "shone
in the international arena" and the state of their
sports fields were no better than current ones.
18. Only State Modeling Agency Receives License
On August 30, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced
that only the state-run modeling agency successfully
obtained a new license after Lukashenko's decree on
slave trade and trafficking. Out of 18 modeling
schools, only the National Beauty School met conditions
of specialized educational facilities and highly
educated staff. All other agencies failed to register.
For example, the MoE denied a license to the Sergei
Nagorny Fashion Studio and recommended that the Studio
introduce law, economy, computer and psychology to its
syllabus, then reapply.
19. Overrun by Beavers...We Think
On August 30, Dr. Petr Kozlo of the Zoology Institute
declared that the beaver population of Belarus has
outgrown its optimal level. He said environmentalists
have not counted the beavers for at least ten years, but
that there could be up to 45,000 beavers. Kozlo blamed
the alleged beaver explosion on new fashion trends,
which have made fur less popular. He suggested forcibly
reducing the quantity of beavers by 15 percent in the
next two years.
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
20. On August 25, press secretary of the Union State
Ivan Makushok criticized plans of Poland, Ukraine,
Latvia and Lithuania to coordinate their policies on
Belarus.
"This is the development of the crusade against
President Lukashenko and against Moscow, which started
in Georgia, went to Ukraine, and now Belarus is on the
way. But such a compact and stable state as Belarus
would be welcome in the EU, if compared to the uneasy
Ukraine."
Phlipot