Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK886
2007-10-19 16:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - October 19, 2007
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000886
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - October 19, 2007
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000886
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - October 19, 2007
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
--------------
- Polish Minority Leaders Arrested in Grodno (para. 2)
- Supreme Court Denies Leftist Union Registration (para. 3)
- Milinkevich Founds European Integration Council (para. 4)
- Vandals Attack Jewish Cemetery in Bobruysk (para. 5)
- Opposition Youth Demonstrate on Solidarity Day (para. 6)
- Youth Activist Expelled from University (para. 7)
International Relations
--------------
- Israel Reacts to Luka's Anti-Semitic Remarks (para. 8)
Domestic Economy
--------------
- Lukashenko Defends Benefit Cuts (para. 9)
International Trade
--------------
- Belarus Negotiating New Credit Lines (para. 10)
- Gazprom: No Gas Price Renegotiation (para. 11)
- Quote of the Week (para. 12)
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. Polish Minority Leaders Arrested in Grodno
A district court in Grodno sentenced several local activists on
obscenities charges on October 11. A judge sentenced the leader of
the Union of Poles of Belarus (UPB) Angelika Borys, Chief Editor of
the "Polish Magazine in Exile" Igor Bantser, and Belarusian National
Front Grodno office head Nikolay Lemenovsky to a fine of 460,000
rubles (USD 215),and ten and five days in jail respectively.
Authorities allowed only Borys' parents to attend the closed-door
hearing.
3. Supreme Court Denies Leftist Union Registration
The Supreme Court refused to overturn the registration denial of the
Union of Left Parties (ULP) at a hearing on October 11. With the
earlier liquidation of the Women's Party Nadzeya and the suspension
of the Belarusian Party of Communists (BPC) in August, the ULP has
lost legal grounds for registration. BPC representative Yelena
Skrygan noted that the three parties would "continue their
cooperation within the pro-democratic camp."
4. Milinkevich Founds European Integration Council
Opposition Leader Aleksandr Milinkevich presided over the founding
meeting of the European Integration Council (EIC) on October 10.
Over 30 prominent political and civil society figures and experts
joined the EIC and elected Milinkevich chairman. The EIC will serve
as a consultative body and a forum for the discussion of strategies
to increase integration and cooperation with Europe. Milinkevich
stated the EIC would conduct information campaigns, provide training
to opposition activists, and promote national culture.
5. Vandals Attack Jewish Cemetery in Bobruysk
Vandals damaged 15 graves at a Jewish cemetery in Bobruysk on
October 12, overturning and smashing gravestones and leaving human
excrement. Local Jewish leaders filed a complaint with the police,
who have launched an investigation.
6. Opposition Youth Demonstrate on Solidarity Day
On October 16, over 30 opposition youth held a joint prayer service
in downtown Minsk to show support for political prisoners.
Participants sang an unofficial anthem of Belarus, lit candles, and
unfurled a sign urging the release of imprisoned youth leader Dmitry
Dashkevich. Plainclothes officers filmed the demonstration, but
made no arrests.
7. Youth Activist Expelled from University
The administration of the Belarus State Technological University has
expelled "For Freedom" Movement activist Dmitry Podreza. Officials
based the expulsion on alleged violations of internal university
rules by Podreza, though others insist it is politically motivated.
MINSK 00000886 002 OF 002
The activist said he may appeal the ruling or pursue a degree
abroad.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
8. Israel Reacts to Luka's Anti-Semitic Remarks
Israel has lodged an official complaint against President
Lukashenko's recent anti-Semitic remarks with a demarche to the
Belarusian ambassador to Israel. According to "Komsomolskaya
Pravda" Lukashenko described the city of Bobruysk, where Jewish
graves have recently been desecrated, saying "If you visit Bobruysk,
you can see what condition the town is in. It is frightful to
enter. It is a pigsty. It is largely a Jewish town. Well, you
know what attitude the Jews have towards the places they live. Look
at Israel."
--------------
Domestic Economy
--------------
9. Lukashenko Defends Benefit Cuts
President Lukashenko justified recent social benefits cuts at a
press conference on October 12, saying the move was necessary to
stave off an increase in the retirement age. Lukashenko said the
system needed revision as some of the benefits abolished date back
to the Stalin era. He also announced unspecific plans to create new
benefits for those in greatest need.
--------------
International Trade
--------------
10. Belarus Negotiating New Credit Lines
The Belarusian Ministry of Economics announced on October 16 that
Belarus is negotiating credit lines with India, Turkey and Czech
Republic to finance future investment projects. Belarus plans to
increase foreign investment to 15-20 percent of total investment by
2010. Last year the figure was USD 354 million, or 3.4 percent of
total capital investment.
11. Gazprom: No Gas Price Renegotiation
Russia does not plan to renegotiate the conditions of natural gas
and oil supplies to Belarus. Gazprom and Belarusian authorities
have confirmed the pricing structure for natural gas for the next
several years. In 2008, Belarus will pay 67 percent of the European
gas price less transport costs, 80 percent in 2009, and 100 percent
of the average European price starting in 2011. The Belarusian side
planned to renegotiate the deal to moderate the price increase, and
even drafted a 2008 budget based on hoped-for lower price hikes.
--------------
12. Quote of the Week
--------------
Pavel Nazdra, a member of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party,
on being taken into custody by police immediately after a drunken
man approached him on the street, waved his arms, and provoked a
fight:
"At the police station, they told me that I had used obscenities and
insulted passers-by.... The man who provoked me had been released
from prison not long before.... I regard the incident as mere
provocation and part of the police's preparations for the European
March. It's their style."
Stewart
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - October 19, 2007
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
--------------
- Polish Minority Leaders Arrested in Grodno (para. 2)
- Supreme Court Denies Leftist Union Registration (para. 3)
- Milinkevich Founds European Integration Council (para. 4)
- Vandals Attack Jewish Cemetery in Bobruysk (para. 5)
- Opposition Youth Demonstrate on Solidarity Day (para. 6)
- Youth Activist Expelled from University (para. 7)
International Relations
--------------
- Israel Reacts to Luka's Anti-Semitic Remarks (para. 8)
Domestic Economy
--------------
- Lukashenko Defends Benefit Cuts (para. 9)
International Trade
--------------
- Belarus Negotiating New Credit Lines (para. 10)
- Gazprom: No Gas Price Renegotiation (para. 11)
- Quote of the Week (para. 12)
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. Polish Minority Leaders Arrested in Grodno
A district court in Grodno sentenced several local activists on
obscenities charges on October 11. A judge sentenced the leader of
the Union of Poles of Belarus (UPB) Angelika Borys, Chief Editor of
the "Polish Magazine in Exile" Igor Bantser, and Belarusian National
Front Grodno office head Nikolay Lemenovsky to a fine of 460,000
rubles (USD 215),and ten and five days in jail respectively.
Authorities allowed only Borys' parents to attend the closed-door
hearing.
3. Supreme Court Denies Leftist Union Registration
The Supreme Court refused to overturn the registration denial of the
Union of Left Parties (ULP) at a hearing on October 11. With the
earlier liquidation of the Women's Party Nadzeya and the suspension
of the Belarusian Party of Communists (BPC) in August, the ULP has
lost legal grounds for registration. BPC representative Yelena
Skrygan noted that the three parties would "continue their
cooperation within the pro-democratic camp."
4. Milinkevich Founds European Integration Council
Opposition Leader Aleksandr Milinkevich presided over the founding
meeting of the European Integration Council (EIC) on October 10.
Over 30 prominent political and civil society figures and experts
joined the EIC and elected Milinkevich chairman. The EIC will serve
as a consultative body and a forum for the discussion of strategies
to increase integration and cooperation with Europe. Milinkevich
stated the EIC would conduct information campaigns, provide training
to opposition activists, and promote national culture.
5. Vandals Attack Jewish Cemetery in Bobruysk
Vandals damaged 15 graves at a Jewish cemetery in Bobruysk on
October 12, overturning and smashing gravestones and leaving human
excrement. Local Jewish leaders filed a complaint with the police,
who have launched an investigation.
6. Opposition Youth Demonstrate on Solidarity Day
On October 16, over 30 opposition youth held a joint prayer service
in downtown Minsk to show support for political prisoners.
Participants sang an unofficial anthem of Belarus, lit candles, and
unfurled a sign urging the release of imprisoned youth leader Dmitry
Dashkevich. Plainclothes officers filmed the demonstration, but
made no arrests.
7. Youth Activist Expelled from University
The administration of the Belarus State Technological University has
expelled "For Freedom" Movement activist Dmitry Podreza. Officials
based the expulsion on alleged violations of internal university
rules by Podreza, though others insist it is politically motivated.
MINSK 00000886 002 OF 002
The activist said he may appeal the ruling or pursue a degree
abroad.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
8. Israel Reacts to Luka's Anti-Semitic Remarks
Israel has lodged an official complaint against President
Lukashenko's recent anti-Semitic remarks with a demarche to the
Belarusian ambassador to Israel. According to "Komsomolskaya
Pravda" Lukashenko described the city of Bobruysk, where Jewish
graves have recently been desecrated, saying "If you visit Bobruysk,
you can see what condition the town is in. It is frightful to
enter. It is a pigsty. It is largely a Jewish town. Well, you
know what attitude the Jews have towards the places they live. Look
at Israel."
--------------
Domestic Economy
--------------
9. Lukashenko Defends Benefit Cuts
President Lukashenko justified recent social benefits cuts at a
press conference on October 12, saying the move was necessary to
stave off an increase in the retirement age. Lukashenko said the
system needed revision as some of the benefits abolished date back
to the Stalin era. He also announced unspecific plans to create new
benefits for those in greatest need.
--------------
International Trade
--------------
10. Belarus Negotiating New Credit Lines
The Belarusian Ministry of Economics announced on October 16 that
Belarus is negotiating credit lines with India, Turkey and Czech
Republic to finance future investment projects. Belarus plans to
increase foreign investment to 15-20 percent of total investment by
2010. Last year the figure was USD 354 million, or 3.4 percent of
total capital investment.
11. Gazprom: No Gas Price Renegotiation
Russia does not plan to renegotiate the conditions of natural gas
and oil supplies to Belarus. Gazprom and Belarusian authorities
have confirmed the pricing structure for natural gas for the next
several years. In 2008, Belarus will pay 67 percent of the European
gas price less transport costs, 80 percent in 2009, and 100 percent
of the average European price starting in 2011. The Belarusian side
planned to renegotiate the deal to moderate the price increase, and
even drafted a 2008 budget based on hoped-for lower price hikes.
--------------
12. Quote of the Week
--------------
Pavel Nazdra, a member of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party,
on being taken into custody by police immediately after a drunken
man approached him on the street, waved his arms, and provoked a
fight:
"At the police station, they told me that I had used obscenities and
insulted passers-by.... The man who provoked me had been released
from prison not long before.... I regard the incident as mere
provocation and part of the police's preparations for the European
March. It's their style."
Stewart