Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK1025
2007-12-14 16:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - December 14, 2007
how-toVZCZCXRO2246 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSK #1025/01 3481620 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141620Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6725 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0044 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1762 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001025
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UMB AND G/TIP
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG KCRM BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - December 14, 2007
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001025
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UMB AND G/TIP
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG KCRM BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - December 14, 2007
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
--------------
- GOB Registers Pro-Regime NGO Belaya Rus (para. 2)
- GOB Adopts 2008-2010 Anti-TIP Program (para. 3)
- Opposition Party Receives Warning (para. 4)
- Signature Campaign against Religion Law Continues (para. 5)
- Brest Officials Reject 64 Demonstration Applications (para. 6)
- Reporter Interrogated by KGB about BelSat (para. 7)
Domestic Economy
--------------
- Belarus' Economic Growth Slows (para. 8)
International Trade
--------------
- Belarus and Russia Discuss Energy Pricing (para. 9)
International Relations
--------------
- Foreign Minister Announces Venezuela Plans (para. 10)
Quote of the Week (para. 11)
--------------
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. GOB Registers Pro-Regime NGO Belaya Rus
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) December 12 approved the registration
of the pro-regime NGO Belaya Rus. The chairman of the organization,
Education Minister Aleksandr Radkov, filed the application one week
ago. Radkov denied recent allegations in the independent press that
administrators of universities around the country received official
orders to establish Belaya Rus offices at their institutions and
enroll 100 students each. At the founding conference November 17,
Radkov expressed hope that Belaya Rus would become a
pro-presidential political party.
3. GOB Adopts 2008-2010 Anti-TIP Program
The GOB December 7 adopted a new national three-year program to
fight trafficking in persons and illegal migration. The program is
aimed at streamlining efforts by GOB agencies and non-state
organizations that combat human trafficking and related crimes.
Authorities will increase cooperation with non-governmental
organizations and development and distribution of prevention
information. The program will also focus on promoting activities
against trafficking in children, counteracting child pornography and
prostitution, and drawing attention to the issue of human organ and
tissue trade.
4. Opposition Party Receives Warning
The MOJ December 10 issued a warning to the opposition Christian
Conservative Party (CCP). Authorities issued the warning based on
the distribution of a letter sent to governmental agencies that
allegedly incited hatred towards the Russian minority and defamed
Russian national policies. The party is now facing suspension or
liquidation if it does not stop distributing the letter. CCP acting
chairperson Yuriy Belenkiy said the warning was unexpected since the
party had not yet submitted additional information about the letter
requested by the MOJ.
5. Signature Campaign against Religion Law Continues
Protestant lawyer Sergey Lukanin informed the media December 7 that
over 40,000 signatures have been collected since April urging
amendments to the 2002 religion law. Religious activists believe
the law is repressive and violates freedom of religion. Legislation
requires 50,000 signatures to initiate a bill to amend laws.
Lukanin expressed certainty the activists would gather the required
number of signatures to file the petition with the Parliament and
President.
6. Brest Officials Reject 64 Demonstration Applications
MINSK 00001025 002 OF 002
Igor Maslovskiy, head of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party
"Gramada" for the Brest region announced December 12 that
authorities there rejected all 64 demonstration applications
recently submitted. The applications were for permission to stage
pickets in the region against the abolition of social benefits and
privileges. Maslovskiy predicted that applicants will soon receive
warnings from the police about possible penalties for ignoring the
denials like they did ahead of similar protests in September.
7. Reporter Interrogated by KGB about BelSat
An independent reporter sent a formal complaint December 7 to the
Gomel Regional Prosecutor's Office over his interrogation by KGB
officers. KGB staff interrogated Sergey Padsasonniy on November 26
about his suspected cooperation with Poland's BelSat television
channel. The reporter, a member of the Belarusian Association of
Journalists, complained about the questioning to the leadership of
the KGB office in Gomel region as well.
--------------
Domestic Economy
--------------
8. Belarus' Economic Growth Slows
According to official statistics, economic growth has slowed as
consumer prices rose during the past year. Belarus' Ministry of
Statistics announced December 11 that the country's GDP growth
through November slowed to 8.2 percent compared with 9.9 percent
last year. Consumer prices rose 9.4 percent, a considerable
increase over last year's 5.7 percent rate. Belarus' National Bank
announced that the country's gold and foreign exchange reserves grew
96.4 percent to USD 2.7 billion.
--------------
International Trade
--------------
9. Belarus and Russia Discuss Energy Pricing
Belarus' Ministry of Economy held a press conference December 11
describing the government's plans to negotiate the volume and price
of energy imports from Russia for 2008. The two parties have
already agreed that Belarus will import 21.6 billion cubic meters of
natural gas and 21.5 million tons of oil from Russia next year. No
agreement has been reached yet on the 5 billion kilowatt-hours of
electricity Belarus plans to import. The GOB is also currently
negotiating with Lukoil, Tatneft, Rosneft and Russia's other leading
oil traders. The government plans to continue processing at
Belarus' two oil refineries at the current volume, though it has
announced its intention to cut import subsidies.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
10. Foreign Minister Announces Venezuela Plans
At a press conference December 10 Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergey
Martynov evaluated Belarus-Venezuela relations following
Lukashenko's visit there last week. During the state visit, the two
countries signed a framework military agreement, and established a
60 percent Venezuelan/40 percent Belarusian joint oil extracting
venture to produce 900,000 tons of crude oil in 2008 and two million
tons in 2009. Martynov also announced that a Venezuelan delegation
will visit Belarus early next year to discuss further agreements.
[Comment and Note: Reports did not indicate the amount of the joint
venture's start-up capital, or where the cash-strapped GOB would
find funds for it. End comment and note.]
--------------
11. Quote of the Week
--------------
Valeriy Nadtachayev, head of the KGB's Public Relations Section,
espousing the total absence of political prisoners in Belarus:
"We do not have political prisoners in Belarus, because there are no
statutes outlining political crimes. So, discussions about
political prisoners in Belarus are simply part of the disinformation
campaign waged against our country to discredit our external and
internal policies. The issue is merely a creation of the European
Union to produce the appearance of tyranny in Belarus."
Stewart
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UMB AND G/TIP
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG KCRM BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - December 14, 2007
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
--------------
- GOB Registers Pro-Regime NGO Belaya Rus (para. 2)
- GOB Adopts 2008-2010 Anti-TIP Program (para. 3)
- Opposition Party Receives Warning (para. 4)
- Signature Campaign against Religion Law Continues (para. 5)
- Brest Officials Reject 64 Demonstration Applications (para. 6)
- Reporter Interrogated by KGB about BelSat (para. 7)
Domestic Economy
--------------
- Belarus' Economic Growth Slows (para. 8)
International Trade
--------------
- Belarus and Russia Discuss Energy Pricing (para. 9)
International Relations
--------------
- Foreign Minister Announces Venezuela Plans (para. 10)
Quote of the Week (para. 11)
--------------
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. GOB Registers Pro-Regime NGO Belaya Rus
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) December 12 approved the registration
of the pro-regime NGO Belaya Rus. The chairman of the organization,
Education Minister Aleksandr Radkov, filed the application one week
ago. Radkov denied recent allegations in the independent press that
administrators of universities around the country received official
orders to establish Belaya Rus offices at their institutions and
enroll 100 students each. At the founding conference November 17,
Radkov expressed hope that Belaya Rus would become a
pro-presidential political party.
3. GOB Adopts 2008-2010 Anti-TIP Program
The GOB December 7 adopted a new national three-year program to
fight trafficking in persons and illegal migration. The program is
aimed at streamlining efforts by GOB agencies and non-state
organizations that combat human trafficking and related crimes.
Authorities will increase cooperation with non-governmental
organizations and development and distribution of prevention
information. The program will also focus on promoting activities
against trafficking in children, counteracting child pornography and
prostitution, and drawing attention to the issue of human organ and
tissue trade.
4. Opposition Party Receives Warning
The MOJ December 10 issued a warning to the opposition Christian
Conservative Party (CCP). Authorities issued the warning based on
the distribution of a letter sent to governmental agencies that
allegedly incited hatred towards the Russian minority and defamed
Russian national policies. The party is now facing suspension or
liquidation if it does not stop distributing the letter. CCP acting
chairperson Yuriy Belenkiy said the warning was unexpected since the
party had not yet submitted additional information about the letter
requested by the MOJ.
5. Signature Campaign against Religion Law Continues
Protestant lawyer Sergey Lukanin informed the media December 7 that
over 40,000 signatures have been collected since April urging
amendments to the 2002 religion law. Religious activists believe
the law is repressive and violates freedom of religion. Legislation
requires 50,000 signatures to initiate a bill to amend laws.
Lukanin expressed certainty the activists would gather the required
number of signatures to file the petition with the Parliament and
President.
6. Brest Officials Reject 64 Demonstration Applications
MINSK 00001025 002 OF 002
Igor Maslovskiy, head of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party
"Gramada" for the Brest region announced December 12 that
authorities there rejected all 64 demonstration applications
recently submitted. The applications were for permission to stage
pickets in the region against the abolition of social benefits and
privileges. Maslovskiy predicted that applicants will soon receive
warnings from the police about possible penalties for ignoring the
denials like they did ahead of similar protests in September.
7. Reporter Interrogated by KGB about BelSat
An independent reporter sent a formal complaint December 7 to the
Gomel Regional Prosecutor's Office over his interrogation by KGB
officers. KGB staff interrogated Sergey Padsasonniy on November 26
about his suspected cooperation with Poland's BelSat television
channel. The reporter, a member of the Belarusian Association of
Journalists, complained about the questioning to the leadership of
the KGB office in Gomel region as well.
--------------
Domestic Economy
--------------
8. Belarus' Economic Growth Slows
According to official statistics, economic growth has slowed as
consumer prices rose during the past year. Belarus' Ministry of
Statistics announced December 11 that the country's GDP growth
through November slowed to 8.2 percent compared with 9.9 percent
last year. Consumer prices rose 9.4 percent, a considerable
increase over last year's 5.7 percent rate. Belarus' National Bank
announced that the country's gold and foreign exchange reserves grew
96.4 percent to USD 2.7 billion.
--------------
International Trade
--------------
9. Belarus and Russia Discuss Energy Pricing
Belarus' Ministry of Economy held a press conference December 11
describing the government's plans to negotiate the volume and price
of energy imports from Russia for 2008. The two parties have
already agreed that Belarus will import 21.6 billion cubic meters of
natural gas and 21.5 million tons of oil from Russia next year. No
agreement has been reached yet on the 5 billion kilowatt-hours of
electricity Belarus plans to import. The GOB is also currently
negotiating with Lukoil, Tatneft, Rosneft and Russia's other leading
oil traders. The government plans to continue processing at
Belarus' two oil refineries at the current volume, though it has
announced its intention to cut import subsidies.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
10. Foreign Minister Announces Venezuela Plans
At a press conference December 10 Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergey
Martynov evaluated Belarus-Venezuela relations following
Lukashenko's visit there last week. During the state visit, the two
countries signed a framework military agreement, and established a
60 percent Venezuelan/40 percent Belarusian joint oil extracting
venture to produce 900,000 tons of crude oil in 2008 and two million
tons in 2009. Martynov also announced that a Venezuelan delegation
will visit Belarus early next year to discuss further agreements.
[Comment and Note: Reports did not indicate the amount of the joint
venture's start-up capital, or where the cash-strapped GOB would
find funds for it. End comment and note.]
--------------
11. Quote of the Week
--------------
Valeriy Nadtachayev, head of the KGB's Public Relations Section,
espousing the total absence of political prisoners in Belarus:
"We do not have political prisoners in Belarus, because there are no
statutes outlining political crimes. So, discussions about
political prisoners in Belarus are simply part of the disinformation
campaign waged against our country to discredit our external and
internal policies. The issue is merely a creation of the European
Union to produce the appearance of tyranny in Belarus."
Stewart