Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK602
2006-06-09 09:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - June 2, 2006
how-toVZCZCXRO3339 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHSK #0602/01 1600922 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 090922Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4520 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000602
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EPET EAGR ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - June 2, 2006
MINSK 00000602 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000602
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EPET EAGR ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - June 2, 2006
MINSK 00000602 001.2 OF 002
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by
Embassy Minsk.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
2. Belarus Skeptical about UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur
On May 31, following consultations with representatives from
Russia's MFA, Belarus' Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Gaisenok said
that Belarus would express misgivings regarding the possible
appointment of a special rapporteur on Belarus by the newly formed
UN Human Rights Council. Belarus did not apply for membership in
the new 47-member council, which replaced the Human Rights
Commission as of May 9. Gaisenok explained that Belarus regards
membership in ECOSOC and other UN agencies as more important.
However, he said that Belarus considers the Council's activities to
be very important and may offer several proposals to help guide the
Council along UN principles. Gaisenok expressed hope that the
Council would be free of political bias and treat all states
equally.
3. Belarus to Discuss Partial Transfer of Oil Revenues to Russia
On May 31, Prime-Tass reported that the Tariff and Non-tariff
regulation commission with the Council of Ministers of the Union
State of Belarus and Russia plans to address the distribution of
the export duties on crude oil and oil products this month. The
commission will consider transferring a part of Belarus' revenues
from exports of oil products to the Russian federal budget per
Article 4 of the Customs Union Agreement between Belarus and Russia
of November 1995. In 2005, Belarus imported 19.2 million tons of
crude from Russia, up 8.7% from last year, and re-exported 13.487
million tons of oil products, up 4%. Belarus earned an average of
USD 360 per ton for its oil exports, while it paid an average price
of USD 218 per ton for imports from Russia.
4. Belarus Seeks Coordination of Sugar Examination with Russia
In a letter to Mikhail Fradkov, Prime Minister of Russia,
Belarusian Prime Minster Sergey Sidorsky wrote that Belarus needs
to coordinate sugar examination procedures with Russia. According
to Sidorsky, differences in examination procedures between Belarus
and Russia resulted in the seizure of 30 train carloads of sugar,
worth about USD 1.1 million, by the Federal Customs Service (FCS)
of Russia. Despite being marked "beet sugar," FCS confiscated the
entire load claiming it was cane sugar. According to the GOB,
regulations in effect at that time allowed Belarus to classify cane
sugar as beet sugar.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
5. BKGB To Bring NGO to Court, Chief Alleges Terrorist Plot
On May 31, BKGB Chief Stepan Sukhorenko told Belarus' House of
Representatives that the criminal case against four members of the
NGO Partnerstvo (Partnership) would be brought to court soon.
Sukhorenko's announcement came 100 days after Timofey Dranchuk,
Aleksandr Shalaiko, Nikolay Astreiko, and Enira Bronitskaya were
jailed and charged with operating an illegal organization that
encroaches on people's rights. Dranchuk's sister, Yuliya, stated
that they had learned that the closed-door trial would start in
late June. Neither Dranchuk's parents nor his sister have been
allowed to meet with him since his arrest. If the four are found
guilty, they could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Sukhorenko also accused Partnerstvo of planning terrorist attacks
during Belarus' recent election and alleged that "some people from
abroad" were involved in the plot. He specifically accused David
Hamilton with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) of financing
these operations with USD 12 million through NDI's Kiev office.
6. National Lottery to Support Pro-government Youth Union
On May 25, Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a presidential edict
authorizing a new national lottery in Belarus for financing
activities of the pro-government Belarusian Republican Youth
Movement (BRSM). The Finance Ministry will create the online
lottery called "Yunost" (Youth). RMTz Yunost, a tourist agency
established by the BRSM, will oversee the sale of lottery ticket
and the distribution of prizes. The Finance Ministry will
supervise the lottery's organization and operations. The proceeds
of the lottery will finance BRSM's activities, the salaries of the
organization's senior officials, and the maintenance of BRSM's
Central Committee. According to Lukashenko's spokesperson, the
goals of the lottery edict are to improve state youth policy and
support the activities of the BRSM in addressing the most important
youth problems.
MINSK 00000602 002.2 OF 002
--------------
Economy
--------------
7. Gazprom Threatens to Quadruple Gas Prices for Belarus
On May 30, Gazprom reportedly announced that it expects to raise
natural gas prices for Belarus from USD 46.68 to USD 200 per 1,000
cubic meters. Gazprom had earlier announced their intention to
triple prices. According to the newspaper "Kommersant," Gazprom
threatened to quadruple gas prices after Belarus refused to cede
control of its pipelines to Russia, which Gazprom has demanded for
years in exchange for low gas prices. Following a similar pricing
dispute in 2004, Gazprom briefly cut gas supplies to Belarus.
8. Belarus, Lukoil form Joint Venture
On May 29, President Alexander Lukashenko met with the head of
Russia's Lukoil, Vagit Alekperov, to discuss increasing cooperation
on several energy projects. Belarus and Lukoil have agreed to a
joint venture for the production of additives to engine oils.
Lukoil is one of the biggest purchasers of Belarusian mechanical
engineering products. Alekperov said that Belarus and Lukoil have
many common interests.
9. Belarus' Beer Output Up 16.4%
On May 30, Belarus' Statistics Ministry reported that Belarusian
beer companies increased their output of beer by 16.4% on the year
in January-April to 8.9 million decaliters. Belarus' state-owned
food holding Belgospischeprom produced 4.3 million decaliters of
beer, up 7.1%. Independent companies produced 1.756 million
decaliters, an increase of 112.8% on the year. Beer sales rose
29.3% on the year in January-April to 4.776 million decaliters.
Beer prices rose 6.4% in the period and 0.2% on the month in April.
10. Belarus Needs $21 million to Build Wood Waste Storehouse
On May 30, Belarus' Deputy Minister of Energy, Mikhail Mikhadyuk,
said that the Belarusian energy ministry needs USD 21 million to
build a storehouse for waste wood. Belarus plans to build 15 waste
wood-fired power plants in addition to the one operating in
Osipovichi, Mogilyov region. However, there are still several
unresolved problems, including fuel storage and delivery, fuel
quality and ash disposal. Mikhadyuk said that the Ministry of
Forest Management should be responsible for collecting and building
stocks of waste wood. According to Mikhadyuk, the Belarusian
government plans to spend USD 750 million on a program to increase
consumption of local fuels over the next five years.
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
11. Earlier this spring, Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov ordered
that professional and amateur performing groups formed by police
officers and Interior Troops hold concerts in recreation aras and
children' summer camps between May 1 and September 1. On Ma 29,
Olga Karach, an opposition member of the Viebsk city council,
offered this comment:
"Theproblem of our country is that everybody does somene else's
work. Factory managers organize electins, school headmasters are
engaged in ideologicalwork, and the police give amateur concerts
insted of catching criminals."
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EPET EAGR ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - June 2, 2006
MINSK 00000602 001.2 OF 002
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by
Embassy Minsk.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
2. Belarus Skeptical about UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur
On May 31, following consultations with representatives from
Russia's MFA, Belarus' Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Gaisenok said
that Belarus would express misgivings regarding the possible
appointment of a special rapporteur on Belarus by the newly formed
UN Human Rights Council. Belarus did not apply for membership in
the new 47-member council, which replaced the Human Rights
Commission as of May 9. Gaisenok explained that Belarus regards
membership in ECOSOC and other UN agencies as more important.
However, he said that Belarus considers the Council's activities to
be very important and may offer several proposals to help guide the
Council along UN principles. Gaisenok expressed hope that the
Council would be free of political bias and treat all states
equally.
3. Belarus to Discuss Partial Transfer of Oil Revenues to Russia
On May 31, Prime-Tass reported that the Tariff and Non-tariff
regulation commission with the Council of Ministers of the Union
State of Belarus and Russia plans to address the distribution of
the export duties on crude oil and oil products this month. The
commission will consider transferring a part of Belarus' revenues
from exports of oil products to the Russian federal budget per
Article 4 of the Customs Union Agreement between Belarus and Russia
of November 1995. In 2005, Belarus imported 19.2 million tons of
crude from Russia, up 8.7% from last year, and re-exported 13.487
million tons of oil products, up 4%. Belarus earned an average of
USD 360 per ton for its oil exports, while it paid an average price
of USD 218 per ton for imports from Russia.
4. Belarus Seeks Coordination of Sugar Examination with Russia
In a letter to Mikhail Fradkov, Prime Minister of Russia,
Belarusian Prime Minster Sergey Sidorsky wrote that Belarus needs
to coordinate sugar examination procedures with Russia. According
to Sidorsky, differences in examination procedures between Belarus
and Russia resulted in the seizure of 30 train carloads of sugar,
worth about USD 1.1 million, by the Federal Customs Service (FCS)
of Russia. Despite being marked "beet sugar," FCS confiscated the
entire load claiming it was cane sugar. According to the GOB,
regulations in effect at that time allowed Belarus to classify cane
sugar as beet sugar.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
5. BKGB To Bring NGO to Court, Chief Alleges Terrorist Plot
On May 31, BKGB Chief Stepan Sukhorenko told Belarus' House of
Representatives that the criminal case against four members of the
NGO Partnerstvo (Partnership) would be brought to court soon.
Sukhorenko's announcement came 100 days after Timofey Dranchuk,
Aleksandr Shalaiko, Nikolay Astreiko, and Enira Bronitskaya were
jailed and charged with operating an illegal organization that
encroaches on people's rights. Dranchuk's sister, Yuliya, stated
that they had learned that the closed-door trial would start in
late June. Neither Dranchuk's parents nor his sister have been
allowed to meet with him since his arrest. If the four are found
guilty, they could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Sukhorenko also accused Partnerstvo of planning terrorist attacks
during Belarus' recent election and alleged that "some people from
abroad" were involved in the plot. He specifically accused David
Hamilton with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) of financing
these operations with USD 12 million through NDI's Kiev office.
6. National Lottery to Support Pro-government Youth Union
On May 25, Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a presidential edict
authorizing a new national lottery in Belarus for financing
activities of the pro-government Belarusian Republican Youth
Movement (BRSM). The Finance Ministry will create the online
lottery called "Yunost" (Youth). RMTz Yunost, a tourist agency
established by the BRSM, will oversee the sale of lottery ticket
and the distribution of prizes. The Finance Ministry will
supervise the lottery's organization and operations. The proceeds
of the lottery will finance BRSM's activities, the salaries of the
organization's senior officials, and the maintenance of BRSM's
Central Committee. According to Lukashenko's spokesperson, the
goals of the lottery edict are to improve state youth policy and
support the activities of the BRSM in addressing the most important
youth problems.
MINSK 00000602 002.2 OF 002
--------------
Economy
--------------
7. Gazprom Threatens to Quadruple Gas Prices for Belarus
On May 30, Gazprom reportedly announced that it expects to raise
natural gas prices for Belarus from USD 46.68 to USD 200 per 1,000
cubic meters. Gazprom had earlier announced their intention to
triple prices. According to the newspaper "Kommersant," Gazprom
threatened to quadruple gas prices after Belarus refused to cede
control of its pipelines to Russia, which Gazprom has demanded for
years in exchange for low gas prices. Following a similar pricing
dispute in 2004, Gazprom briefly cut gas supplies to Belarus.
8. Belarus, Lukoil form Joint Venture
On May 29, President Alexander Lukashenko met with the head of
Russia's Lukoil, Vagit Alekperov, to discuss increasing cooperation
on several energy projects. Belarus and Lukoil have agreed to a
joint venture for the production of additives to engine oils.
Lukoil is one of the biggest purchasers of Belarusian mechanical
engineering products. Alekperov said that Belarus and Lukoil have
many common interests.
9. Belarus' Beer Output Up 16.4%
On May 30, Belarus' Statistics Ministry reported that Belarusian
beer companies increased their output of beer by 16.4% on the year
in January-April to 8.9 million decaliters. Belarus' state-owned
food holding Belgospischeprom produced 4.3 million decaliters of
beer, up 7.1%. Independent companies produced 1.756 million
decaliters, an increase of 112.8% on the year. Beer sales rose
29.3% on the year in January-April to 4.776 million decaliters.
Beer prices rose 6.4% in the period and 0.2% on the month in April.
10. Belarus Needs $21 million to Build Wood Waste Storehouse
On May 30, Belarus' Deputy Minister of Energy, Mikhail Mikhadyuk,
said that the Belarusian energy ministry needs USD 21 million to
build a storehouse for waste wood. Belarus plans to build 15 waste
wood-fired power plants in addition to the one operating in
Osipovichi, Mogilyov region. However, there are still several
unresolved problems, including fuel storage and delivery, fuel
quality and ash disposal. Mikhadyuk said that the Ministry of
Forest Management should be responsible for collecting and building
stocks of waste wood. According to Mikhadyuk, the Belarusian
government plans to spend USD 750 million on a program to increase
consumption of local fuels over the next five years.
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
11. Earlier this spring, Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov ordered
that professional and amateur performing groups formed by police
officers and Interior Troops hold concerts in recreation aras and
children' summer camps between May 1 and September 1. On Ma 29,
Olga Karach, an opposition member of the Viebsk city council,
offered this comment:
"Theproblem of our country is that everybody does somene else's
work. Factory managers organize electins, school headmasters are
engaged in ideologicalwork, and the police give amateur concerts
insted of catching criminals."
KROL