Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1262
2005-10-14 14:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 13, 2005
how-toVZCZCXRO8454 RR RUEHCD RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE DE RUEHSK #1262/01 2871452 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141452Z OCT 05 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3169 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 001262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 13, 2005
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 001262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 13, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
2. New Life Church Fined Again
On October 7, a Minsk court fined New Life Church
administrator Vasily Yurevich BYR 4,350,000 [USD 2,000]
for organizing illegal worship service on September 4 in
the former cowshed the Church bought in 2002. This fine
follows the September 23 fine of BYR 4,000,000 [USD
1,900] that Yurevich received for organizing illegal
worship services on July 24.
3. Opposition Youth Activist Sentenced to Three Days in
Jail
On October 10, the GOB sentenced opposition youth
activist Nikita Sasim to three days in jail for uttering
obscenities in public. Since he was held for three days
after his arrest on October 7, he was freed after the
hearing as he had already served his sentence. Sasim
filed a complaint against a policeman who beat him
during an anti-government demonstration in September,
but the authorities have dismissed it.
4. Travel Ban for Union of Belarusian Poles (UBP)
Activist
On October 12, a court rejected UBP activist Andrzej
Poczobut's appeal of a GOB travel ban. On July 27, a
Grodno court banned him from traveling abroad until he
paid the remainder of his BYR 5.1 million [USD 2,380]
fine. Poczobut still owes BYR 500,000 [USD 232], but
was not able to make the next payment since he was
serving a short jail sentence.
5. Polish Ambassador Returned to Minsk
On October 11, Polish Ambassador Tadeusz Pawlak returned
to Minsk after being recalled to Warsaw on July 28.
Pawlak left Belarus after a series of reciprocal
diplomatic expulsions occurred between Warsaw and Minsk.
Although the decision to recall Pawlak stemmed from
tension over the GOB's treatment of Polish minorities
following the election of the UBP leader, the GOP stated
there had been "some progress in forcing Belarus to
respect the...rights of ethnic minorities" and allowed
Pawlak to return.
6. National Academy of Sciences Dismisses Another
Scholar
On October 10, the History Institute of the National
Academy of Sciences dismissed economic historian Andrei
Kishtymov. The official reason for his dismissal was
that his contract, which expired on September 30, was
not renewed. However, Kishtymov maintained the state
supported academic leadership did not like the tone of
his research, having labeled it "anti-Soviet" and filled
with "zoological hatred for the current authorities."
7. Dissident Artist Display Work in Kiev
From September 27 through October 17, the works of
Belarusian dissident artists will be exhibited in Kiev.
Authorities in Belarus have banned these works because
they portray anti-Bolshevik resistance activists and
oppose the Belarusian-Russian Union.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
8. Third Time is Not the Charm for Party of Freedom and
Progress
On October 7, the Ministry of Justice denied the
registration of Vladimir Novosyad's Party of Freedom and
Progress (PFP) for the third time, citing forged
signatures and irregularities in funding as the reason.
The PFP was created to promote liberal reform and
democratic values.
9. CIS Executive Committee Is in the Red
On October 11, the CIS Executive Committee announced it
had to close its dining room and cut back on
MINSK 00001262 002 OF 003
expenditures. Since only four of the twelve members of
the organization have paid their dues, the committee is
suffering from financial hardships and cannot repay its
RUB 1 million [USD 35,000] debt.
10. Return to Soviet Style Sports Training
On October 6, Lukashenko slammed the Federation of Trade
Unions and the Sports and Education Ministries for not
doing enough to properly promote sports training
programs among youth. Lukashenko then announced his
plan to restore the Soviet era system of sports training
for youth, stating competition was the key to a well-
trained athlete.
11. "Student Village" Proposed for Minsk
On October 4, Lukashenko announced his desire to build a
"student village" to help house the 97,000 students in
the Minsk area who cannot find space in the dormitories.
The village must include sports and entertainment
facilities. Lukashenko requested project cost estimates
as soon as possible from his staff.
--------------
Economics
--------------
12. The GOB Acquires Majority Control of Private Company
Pulp and Paper Factory
On October 12, Svetlogorsk Pulp and Paper Factory
surrendered approximately 1.5 million shares worth BYR 17.3
billion [USD 80.5 million] to the GOB, thereby increasing
the percentage of government ownership in the company from
47% to 76%. [Note: The government take-over of the Pulp and
Paper Factory is the latest in a trend by the GOB to
nationalize private companies.]
13. No More Poultry from Romania and Turkey
On October 11, the GOB announced it would no longer import
poultry from Romania and Turkey after an outbreak of avian
flu cases were reported in those countries. The level of
poultry in the Belarus should not be greatly affected by
this decision, as Belarus imports very little poultry from
these countries.
14. Transparent Car Market Needed in Belarus
On October 7, Lukashenko expressed the need create domestic
car markets in Belarus so Belarusians can "buy everything
they need in their home country without going to Germany or
Lithuania." Lukashenko does not consider the current system
of open-air flea markets where people search for used parts
and cars to be "civilized."
--------------
Anti-U.S.
--------------
15. U.S. Is World's Drug Trafficker, State Media Alleges
On October 13, the 7 DNEI pro-government weekly (circulation
37,885) alleged the U.S. is trying to help local drug
dealers and engaging in drug trafficking by staging color
revolutions in Asia. The article makes claims such as the
rose revolution in Georgia was partly due to competition the
Shevardnadze regime presented to U.S.-supported traffickers;
the war in Afghanistan was organized to take control of the
opium fields there; and because the "stan" countries became
transit points for drugs it was necessary to "free" them
from leaders who were trying to stop the flow of illegal
drug trafficking.
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
16. The Minister of Education comments on the reasons
why politics should stay out of universities:
"Both students and professors are citizens, and they
have a right to be engaged in politics. However, we want
the educational process to remain an educational
process. It means that classrooms and lectures should
not be used for declaration of one's views. You should
keep to the curriculum and standards, as you are
instructing professionals."
MINSK 00001262 003 OF 003
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 13, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
2. New Life Church Fined Again
On October 7, a Minsk court fined New Life Church
administrator Vasily Yurevich BYR 4,350,000 [USD 2,000]
for organizing illegal worship service on September 4 in
the former cowshed the Church bought in 2002. This fine
follows the September 23 fine of BYR 4,000,000 [USD
1,900] that Yurevich received for organizing illegal
worship services on July 24.
3. Opposition Youth Activist Sentenced to Three Days in
Jail
On October 10, the GOB sentenced opposition youth
activist Nikita Sasim to three days in jail for uttering
obscenities in public. Since he was held for three days
after his arrest on October 7, he was freed after the
hearing as he had already served his sentence. Sasim
filed a complaint against a policeman who beat him
during an anti-government demonstration in September,
but the authorities have dismissed it.
4. Travel Ban for Union of Belarusian Poles (UBP)
Activist
On October 12, a court rejected UBP activist Andrzej
Poczobut's appeal of a GOB travel ban. On July 27, a
Grodno court banned him from traveling abroad until he
paid the remainder of his BYR 5.1 million [USD 2,380]
fine. Poczobut still owes BYR 500,000 [USD 232], but
was not able to make the next payment since he was
serving a short jail sentence.
5. Polish Ambassador Returned to Minsk
On October 11, Polish Ambassador Tadeusz Pawlak returned
to Minsk after being recalled to Warsaw on July 28.
Pawlak left Belarus after a series of reciprocal
diplomatic expulsions occurred between Warsaw and Minsk.
Although the decision to recall Pawlak stemmed from
tension over the GOB's treatment of Polish minorities
following the election of the UBP leader, the GOP stated
there had been "some progress in forcing Belarus to
respect the...rights of ethnic minorities" and allowed
Pawlak to return.
6. National Academy of Sciences Dismisses Another
Scholar
On October 10, the History Institute of the National
Academy of Sciences dismissed economic historian Andrei
Kishtymov. The official reason for his dismissal was
that his contract, which expired on September 30, was
not renewed. However, Kishtymov maintained the state
supported academic leadership did not like the tone of
his research, having labeled it "anti-Soviet" and filled
with "zoological hatred for the current authorities."
7. Dissident Artist Display Work in Kiev
From September 27 through October 17, the works of
Belarusian dissident artists will be exhibited in Kiev.
Authorities in Belarus have banned these works because
they portray anti-Bolshevik resistance activists and
oppose the Belarusian-Russian Union.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
8. Third Time is Not the Charm for Party of Freedom and
Progress
On October 7, the Ministry of Justice denied the
registration of Vladimir Novosyad's Party of Freedom and
Progress (PFP) for the third time, citing forged
signatures and irregularities in funding as the reason.
The PFP was created to promote liberal reform and
democratic values.
9. CIS Executive Committee Is in the Red
On October 11, the CIS Executive Committee announced it
had to close its dining room and cut back on
MINSK 00001262 002 OF 003
expenditures. Since only four of the twelve members of
the organization have paid their dues, the committee is
suffering from financial hardships and cannot repay its
RUB 1 million [USD 35,000] debt.
10. Return to Soviet Style Sports Training
On October 6, Lukashenko slammed the Federation of Trade
Unions and the Sports and Education Ministries for not
doing enough to properly promote sports training
programs among youth. Lukashenko then announced his
plan to restore the Soviet era system of sports training
for youth, stating competition was the key to a well-
trained athlete.
11. "Student Village" Proposed for Minsk
On October 4, Lukashenko announced his desire to build a
"student village" to help house the 97,000 students in
the Minsk area who cannot find space in the dormitories.
The village must include sports and entertainment
facilities. Lukashenko requested project cost estimates
as soon as possible from his staff.
--------------
Economics
--------------
12. The GOB Acquires Majority Control of Private Company
Pulp and Paper Factory
On October 12, Svetlogorsk Pulp and Paper Factory
surrendered approximately 1.5 million shares worth BYR 17.3
billion [USD 80.5 million] to the GOB, thereby increasing
the percentage of government ownership in the company from
47% to 76%. [Note: The government take-over of the Pulp and
Paper Factory is the latest in a trend by the GOB to
nationalize private companies.]
13. No More Poultry from Romania and Turkey
On October 11, the GOB announced it would no longer import
poultry from Romania and Turkey after an outbreak of avian
flu cases were reported in those countries. The level of
poultry in the Belarus should not be greatly affected by
this decision, as Belarus imports very little poultry from
these countries.
14. Transparent Car Market Needed in Belarus
On October 7, Lukashenko expressed the need create domestic
car markets in Belarus so Belarusians can "buy everything
they need in their home country without going to Germany or
Lithuania." Lukashenko does not consider the current system
of open-air flea markets where people search for used parts
and cars to be "civilized."
--------------
Anti-U.S.
--------------
15. U.S. Is World's Drug Trafficker, State Media Alleges
On October 13, the 7 DNEI pro-government weekly (circulation
37,885) alleged the U.S. is trying to help local drug
dealers and engaging in drug trafficking by staging color
revolutions in Asia. The article makes claims such as the
rose revolution in Georgia was partly due to competition the
Shevardnadze regime presented to U.S.-supported traffickers;
the war in Afghanistan was organized to take control of the
opium fields there; and because the "stan" countries became
transit points for drugs it was necessary to "free" them
from leaders who were trying to stop the flow of illegal
drug trafficking.
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
16. The Minister of Education comments on the reasons
why politics should stay out of universities:
"Both students and professors are citizens, and they
have a right to be engaged in politics. However, we want
the educational process to remain an educational
process. It means that classrooms and lectures should
not be used for declaration of one's views. You should
keep to the curriculum and standards, as you are
instructing professionals."
MINSK 00001262 003 OF 003
KROL