Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK1317
2006-12-29 13:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 29, 2006
how-toVZCZCXRO0186 RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #1317/01 3631325 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 291325Z DEC 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5483 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
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SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 29, 2006
MINSK 00001317 001.2 OF 003
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TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 29, 2006
MINSK 00001317 001.2 OF 003
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
--------------
- Russian Bank Acquires Belvneshekonombank (para. 2)
ELECTIONS
--------------
- Lebedko Denied Permission to Meet With Voters (para. 3)
- Authorities Drop Charge Against Oppositionist (para. 4)
- BPF Deputy Bhairman and Youth Activist Sentenced (para. 5)
- Address by Opposition Candidate Not Broadcast (para. 6)
CIVIL SOCIETY
--------------
- Judge Adjourns New Life Church Hearing (para. 7)
GOVERNMENT
--------------
- Central Election Commission Chair Reappointed (para. 8)
- Lukashenko Makes End-of-Year Government Appointments (para. 9)
DOMESTIC ECONOMY
--------------
- Main 2006 Economic Targets To Be Met (para. 10)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
--------------
- Belarus, Cuba Interested in Joint Projects (para. 11)
- QUOTE OF THE WEEK (para. 12)
--------------
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
--------------
2. Russian Bank Acquires Belvneshekonombank
On December 22, Vneshekonombank chairman Vladimir Dmitriyev
stated that the Russian bank intends to increase its share in
Belvneshekonombank's authorized capital to have a controlling
stake in the Belarusian bank. According to Dmitriyev,
Vneshekonombank sees increasing their presence in the Belabusian
banking sector as a priority toward strengthening integration
processes between Belarus and Russia.
--------------
ELECTIONS
--------------
3. Lebedko Denied Permission to Meet with Voters
On December 27, independent media reported that Minsk city
authorities denied senior Belarusian opposition leader and United
Civic Party chair Anatoliy Lebedko permission to hold election
rallies in Minsk. Lebedko had applied for permission to hold
several meetings with voters to inform them about the situation
in the country, promote the party's program and the European
Union's new strategy toward Belarus. Lebedko indicated that he
would defy the city authorities' ban and hold unauthorized
meetings with voters.
4. Authorities Drop Charge Against Oppositionist
On December 26, Mogilev's Oktyabrsky District Executive Committee
dropped charges against opposition activist Kristina Shatikova
finding that her actions were legal. Shatikova had been detained
by police officers while carrying 4,000 copies of several
newspapers in her bag on November 30. The activist was charged
with the distribution of illegal printed materials and the
newspapers were seized.
5. BPF Deputy Chairman and Youth Activist Sentenced
On December 26, Minsk's Sovetskiy District Court sentenced
Belarusian Popular Front deputy chairman and candidate for the
Minsk City Council Ales Mikhalevich and young opposition activist
Vasily Lepesh to five days in jail on a disorderly conduct
MINSK 00001317 002.2 OF 003
charge. Mikhalevich was arrested on the night of December 22
while hosting a Christmas party at his residence.
6. Address by Opposition Candidate Not Broadcast
On December 28, independent media reported that the Gomel
election commission alleged that Conservative Christian Party
member and candidate in Rechitskiy Electoral District No. 27
Vladimir Ivanovich Shitikov violated the Electoral Code in his
radio address. The five-minute pre-recorded address to air on
December 28 was never broadcast. Shitikov told independent media
that he had spoken about how the current regime violates human
rights, falsifies elections and destroys the language and culture
of Belarus.
--------------
CIVIL SOCIETY
--------------
7. Judge Adjourns New Life Church Hearing
On December 22, Supreme Economic Court Judge Yekaterina
Korotkevich adjourned the New Life Church's lawsuit against the
Minsk City Executive Committee's decision to take away a building
and an adjacent land plot that the Protestant community bought in
2002 to conduct worship. Korotkevich cited the need to review
the five new petitions filed by the church that day. Korotkevich
agreed to consider three petitions after January 7, 2007,
including requests that authorities grant the building the status
of a house of prayer and compensate the New Life Church for court
costs estimated at USD 855.
--------------
GOVERNMENT
--------------
8. Central Election Commission Chair Reappointed
On December 27, Aleksandr Lukashenko reappointed Lidiya
Yermoshina as chair of the Central Commission for Elections and
National Referendums. He also reappointed Nadezhda Kiselyova,
Marina Kozlovich, Nikolay Lozovik, Valery Mitskevich and Vladimir
Kholod as members of the commission.
9. Lukashenko Makes End-of-Year Government Appointments
On December 26, President Lukashenko made several government
appointments, including: Raisa Savritskaya as Deputy Chair of
the State Control Committee; Sergey Baranovskiy as Chief of the
State Customs Committee's Financial Investigations Department;
Aleksandr Binetskiy as Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian State
Radio and Television Company; Vladimir Malets as Deputy Minister
of Construction and Architecture; Marianna Shchetkina as Deputy
Minister of Labor and Social protection; Vladimir Amarin as
Deputy Finance Minister; Aleksandr Bileychik as Deputy Justice
Minister; Ivan Shcherbo as Deputy Minister of Transport and
Communications; Aleksandr Lyakhov as Director General of the
Belorusneft oil company; and Vladimir Zametalin as Director
General of Belarusfilm.
--------------
DOMESTIC ECONOMY
--------------
10. Main 2006 Economic Targets To Be Met
On December 26, Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy stated that all
2006 economic development targets would be met, creating a basis
for a successful economic performance in 2007. Sidorskiy also
emphasized the importance of science in increasing industrial
output.
--------------
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
--------------
11. Belarus, Cuba Interested in Joint Projects
On December 28, Cuban Ambassador Omar Medina Quintero stated that
Cuba and Belarus are interested in joint projects that would
involve other Latin American countries. He noted that Belarus
and Cuba would continue developing bilateral cooperation in
education, healthcare and transportation. Belarus and Cuba
concentrate on cooperation in the manufacturing of vaccines and
medicines based on Cuba's experience in the sphere of
biotechnologies. According to Quintero, such cooperation could
be established with Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil and Nicaragua.
--------------
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
--------------
MINSK 00001317 003.2 OF 003
12. GOB Promotes Russian Idea
On December 22, during a convention of the pro-GOB Union of
Writers of Belarus, Russian Writers Union representative Larisa
Baranova-Boychenko lauded the Belarusian government for promoting
"the Russian idea":
"The two main components of this idea -- Orthodoxy and
authoritarianism -- exist here. That's why they love your
president as a brother in Russia."
MOORE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY (REF LINE REMOVED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 29, 2006
MINSK 00001317 001.2 OF 003
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
--------------
- Russian Bank Acquires Belvneshekonombank (para. 2)
ELECTIONS
--------------
- Lebedko Denied Permission to Meet With Voters (para. 3)
- Authorities Drop Charge Against Oppositionist (para. 4)
- BPF Deputy Bhairman and Youth Activist Sentenced (para. 5)
- Address by Opposition Candidate Not Broadcast (para. 6)
CIVIL SOCIETY
--------------
- Judge Adjourns New Life Church Hearing (para. 7)
GOVERNMENT
--------------
- Central Election Commission Chair Reappointed (para. 8)
- Lukashenko Makes End-of-Year Government Appointments (para. 9)
DOMESTIC ECONOMY
--------------
- Main 2006 Economic Targets To Be Met (para. 10)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
--------------
- Belarus, Cuba Interested in Joint Projects (para. 11)
- QUOTE OF THE WEEK (para. 12)
--------------
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
--------------
2. Russian Bank Acquires Belvneshekonombank
On December 22, Vneshekonombank chairman Vladimir Dmitriyev
stated that the Russian bank intends to increase its share in
Belvneshekonombank's authorized capital to have a controlling
stake in the Belarusian bank. According to Dmitriyev,
Vneshekonombank sees increasing their presence in the Belabusian
banking sector as a priority toward strengthening integration
processes between Belarus and Russia.
--------------
ELECTIONS
--------------
3. Lebedko Denied Permission to Meet with Voters
On December 27, independent media reported that Minsk city
authorities denied senior Belarusian opposition leader and United
Civic Party chair Anatoliy Lebedko permission to hold election
rallies in Minsk. Lebedko had applied for permission to hold
several meetings with voters to inform them about the situation
in the country, promote the party's program and the European
Union's new strategy toward Belarus. Lebedko indicated that he
would defy the city authorities' ban and hold unauthorized
meetings with voters.
4. Authorities Drop Charge Against Oppositionist
On December 26, Mogilev's Oktyabrsky District Executive Committee
dropped charges against opposition activist Kristina Shatikova
finding that her actions were legal. Shatikova had been detained
by police officers while carrying 4,000 copies of several
newspapers in her bag on November 30. The activist was charged
with the distribution of illegal printed materials and the
newspapers were seized.
5. BPF Deputy Chairman and Youth Activist Sentenced
On December 26, Minsk's Sovetskiy District Court sentenced
Belarusian Popular Front deputy chairman and candidate for the
Minsk City Council Ales Mikhalevich and young opposition activist
Vasily Lepesh to five days in jail on a disorderly conduct
MINSK 00001317 002.2 OF 003
charge. Mikhalevich was arrested on the night of December 22
while hosting a Christmas party at his residence.
6. Address by Opposition Candidate Not Broadcast
On December 28, independent media reported that the Gomel
election commission alleged that Conservative Christian Party
member and candidate in Rechitskiy Electoral District No. 27
Vladimir Ivanovich Shitikov violated the Electoral Code in his
radio address. The five-minute pre-recorded address to air on
December 28 was never broadcast. Shitikov told independent media
that he had spoken about how the current regime violates human
rights, falsifies elections and destroys the language and culture
of Belarus.
--------------
CIVIL SOCIETY
--------------
7. Judge Adjourns New Life Church Hearing
On December 22, Supreme Economic Court Judge Yekaterina
Korotkevich adjourned the New Life Church's lawsuit against the
Minsk City Executive Committee's decision to take away a building
and an adjacent land plot that the Protestant community bought in
2002 to conduct worship. Korotkevich cited the need to review
the five new petitions filed by the church that day. Korotkevich
agreed to consider three petitions after January 7, 2007,
including requests that authorities grant the building the status
of a house of prayer and compensate the New Life Church for court
costs estimated at USD 855.
--------------
GOVERNMENT
--------------
8. Central Election Commission Chair Reappointed
On December 27, Aleksandr Lukashenko reappointed Lidiya
Yermoshina as chair of the Central Commission for Elections and
National Referendums. He also reappointed Nadezhda Kiselyova,
Marina Kozlovich, Nikolay Lozovik, Valery Mitskevich and Vladimir
Kholod as members of the commission.
9. Lukashenko Makes End-of-Year Government Appointments
On December 26, President Lukashenko made several government
appointments, including: Raisa Savritskaya as Deputy Chair of
the State Control Committee; Sergey Baranovskiy as Chief of the
State Customs Committee's Financial Investigations Department;
Aleksandr Binetskiy as Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian State
Radio and Television Company; Vladimir Malets as Deputy Minister
of Construction and Architecture; Marianna Shchetkina as Deputy
Minister of Labor and Social protection; Vladimir Amarin as
Deputy Finance Minister; Aleksandr Bileychik as Deputy Justice
Minister; Ivan Shcherbo as Deputy Minister of Transport and
Communications; Aleksandr Lyakhov as Director General of the
Belorusneft oil company; and Vladimir Zametalin as Director
General of Belarusfilm.
--------------
DOMESTIC ECONOMY
--------------
10. Main 2006 Economic Targets To Be Met
On December 26, Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy stated that all
2006 economic development targets would be met, creating a basis
for a successful economic performance in 2007. Sidorskiy also
emphasized the importance of science in increasing industrial
output.
--------------
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
--------------
11. Belarus, Cuba Interested in Joint Projects
On December 28, Cuban Ambassador Omar Medina Quintero stated that
Cuba and Belarus are interested in joint projects that would
involve other Latin American countries. He noted that Belarus
and Cuba would continue developing bilateral cooperation in
education, healthcare and transportation. Belarus and Cuba
concentrate on cooperation in the manufacturing of vaccines and
medicines based on Cuba's experience in the sphere of
biotechnologies. According to Quintero, such cooperation could
be established with Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil and Nicaragua.
--------------
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
--------------
MINSK 00001317 003.2 OF 003
12. GOB Promotes Russian Idea
On December 22, during a convention of the pro-GOB Union of
Writers of Belarus, Russian Writers Union representative Larisa
Baranova-Boychenko lauded the Belarusian government for promoting
"the Russian idea":
"The two main components of this idea -- Orthodoxy and
authoritarianism -- exist here. That's why they love your
president as a brother in Russia."
MOORE