Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1291
2005-10-24 08:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 20, 2005

Tags:  PGOV PHUM ECON BO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHCD RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE
DE RUEHSK #1291/01 2970824
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240824Z OCT 05
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3207
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 001291 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 20, 2005

REF: MINSK 1003

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 001291

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 20, 2005

REF: MINSK 1003


1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.

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Human Rights
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2. Approximately 100,000 Belarusians Unite in
Solidarity Campaign

On October 16, the "Free Belarus" Coalition, including
Nikita Sasim, journalist Irina Khalip, and wife of
"disappeared" businessman Irina Krasovsky, organized a
commemoration event for missing politicians, political
prisoners and their families as part of the "day of
solidarity" with those who have been persecuted by the
GOB. Belarusians were asked to turn off their lights at
home from 8 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and place a lit candle in
their window. According to the organizers, 100,000
Belarusians participated. Khalip stated, "If we organize
such events every month, we will be able to bring people
to the streets next spring....Together...we are the
majority." Embassy observers witnessed few candles in
apartments in downtown Minsk although we have received
reports that more candles appeared in the apartment
complexes in the outskirts of the city.


3. New Life Church Will Get Its Day in Court

On October 17, a Minsk judge agreed to hear the New Life
Church's complaint regarding the GOB's decision to evict
it from the cowshed in which the church community
worships. The church pastor told the media he is
optimistic the hearing will show the authorities acted
illegally. [Note: The authorities have refused to
reregister the church because it lacks a legal address.]


4. No Protection from Triple Jeopardy in Belarus

On October 17, Supreme Economic Court (SEC) Deputy
Chairman Yevgeny Smirnov appealed the SEC's decision to
annul the taxes and fines the tax authorities levied on
the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC). Twice in the
past year and one-half, the SEC annulled the BYR 155
million [USD 72,000] in taxes the tax authority insisted
the BHC pay on grants from the European Union (EU). The
SEC's past decisions were based on a May 10, 1994,
memorandum between the EU and Belarus exempting EU
grants from Belarusian taxes. However, if the SEC
overrules its previous decisions - which seems likely
since the deputy chairman launched the appeal - the

authorities will reintroduce the former criminal charges
against the BHC head and chief accountant. The SEC
expects to make a decision later this month.


5. Third Way's Cartoon Website Is Back On-Line

As of October 19, short animated films poking fun at
Lukashenko and his administration are available again on
the Third Way's website (http://mult.3dway.org).
Authorities shut down the website after the Belarusian
KGB detained the cartoonists and raided their apartment
on August 16 (reftel). Prosecutors are still
investigating the group since the satirical cartoons
defame and insult the President, a crime punishable by
jail.


6. GOB vs. Trade Unions

On October 18, the International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions (ICFTU) announced that Belarus is the "most
anti-union country" in Europe. After documenting
significant government interference and union rights
violations, the ICFTU accused Lukashenko of "stifling
independent trade union activity with the full force of
the state." Separately on October 19, the Belarusian
Congress of Democratic Trade Unions announced it has not
been able to find a location in Belarus for its charter
mandated triennial meeting. [Note: If the BCDTU does
not hold the conference, the Ministry of Justice will
issue a warning to the organization for violating its
charter.] Citing intense pressure and increased
scrutiny by authorities, BCDTU head Aleksandr Yaroshuk
stated BCDTU would have to hold its convention abroad if
the last venue rejects the organization's application.


7. Politically Active School Administrator Loses Appeal

On October 14, a Gorodok court rejected Belarusian

MINSK 00001291 002 OF 003


Social Democratic Party "Hramada" member Leonid
Gorovoi's appeal to reinstate him as a principal of a
Varkhi school. Gorovoi opines the education
department's politically motivated decision to dismiss
him stemmed from his active civic position since the
education department did not provide any explanation for
its refusal to renew his contract.

--------------
Civil Society
--------------


8. Major Cities Need a Face Lift Before Elections

On October 19, Lukashenko ordered his government to
renovate Minsk and the regional capitals by June 2006,
roughly one month before the presidential elections. The
President stated the capitals should be brought to an
"ideal state" because "people should live in normal,
comfortable cities and villages."


9. Belarus is Among the Who's Who of Corrupt Countries

On October 18, Transparency International (TI) announced
Belarus ranks 107th among the 158 countries evaluated in
"perception of corruption." TI determined the level of
corruption in Belarus has increased and thus Belarus
fell 33 spots on the list from last year. Belarus is
now on par in perception of corruption with countries
like Kazakhstan, Palestine, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.


10. Building Bridges Between Syrian and Belarusian
Political Parties

On October 17, the Al-Baath Arab Socialist Party and the
pro-government Belarusian Communist Party (BCP) signed
an agreement aimed at "enhancing ties between both
parties as well as...developing bilateral relations
between two friendly countries." BCP First Secretary
Natiana Golopiva emphasized her solidarity with the
Syrian party and expressed her admiration of Syria's
role in the regional and international arena.

--------------
Economics
--------------


11. Broke the Law? Receive a Pardon!

On October 17, Lukashenko signed a decree, which allows the
President to pardon ailing businesses when they receive
economic sanctions for violation of tax, customs, commerce,
and banking regulations even if courts imposed the
penalties. The decree aims to "prevent unfounded bankruptcy
of business entities [and to] preserve and develop
enterprises of key importance to the country and its
regions."

--------------
Bilateral Relations
--------------


12. Ukraine and Belarus: Becoming Closer?

On October 17 during Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuriy
Yekhanurov's visit to Belarus, the GOB and the GOU signed
several accords including an agreement to establish joint
military research and development projects. Yekhanurov
acknowledged the GOU's USD 134 million debt to Belarus
dating from 1992 and agreed that Ukrainian businesses and
not the GOU would pay it off by providing goods and services
to Belarus. The debt had hindered the signing of a
bilateral border treaty, which Ukraine needs to meet EU and
NATO accession requirements.

--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------


13. On October 19, after his advisors presented him with
a weaker economic forecast for the next year, Lukashenko
expressed his disappointment at the performance of his
cabinet:

"If the presidential elections turn out well next year,
I will have to [create] the cabinet. And while doing
that, I will see how effective you were during the
previous five-year period. Why do I need pole-vaulters
jumping beneath the bar? For this reason, I need a[n
economic] forecast that aims very high."


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KROL