Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VILNIUS226
2008-04-11 10:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - April 11, 2008
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000226
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON MCAP ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - April 11, 2008
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000226
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON MCAP ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - April 11, 2008
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
--------------
- Official: Opposition Recommendations Constructive (para. 2)
- Opposition Youth Banned From Traveling to Poland (para. 3)
- Former Prisoner to Found Radiation Safety Center (para. 4)
- Prosecutor Extends Investigation into Disappearances (para. 5)
- Belarusian TV Broadcast in North America (para. 6)
Domestic Economy
--------------
- Belarusians to Pay More for Utilities This Year (para. 7)
- GDP Grows 10.5 Per Cent in First Quarter (para. 8)
International Trade
--------------
- MFA Releases 2007 Report On Arms Sales Abroad (para. 9)
- Beer Imports Rise Dramatically (para. 10)
- Trade Deficit with Russia May Reach USD 12 Billion (para. 11)
Quote of the Week (para. 12)
--------------
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. Official: Opposition Recommendations Constructive
Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Nikolay Lozovik
SIPDIS
announced April 7 that he considered the six recommendations that
the United Democratic Forces' (UDF) proposed to improve
implementation of electoral regulations "generally constructive" and
added that the CEC will "thoroughly study" them. For Free and Fair
Elections Campaign Coordinator Viktor Korniyenko maintained that
current electoral laws were not "perfect," but it was not "realistic
to amend them" before parliamentary elections scheduled for
September 2008. The UDF's proposals focus on improving "society's
political standards" and proposed changes to the formation of
precinct electoral commissions and their members' duties,
registration of observers and their rights, ballot-counting
procedures, rules for media coverage of the campaign, and
campaigning procedures.
3. Opposition Youth Banned From Traveling to Poland
Malady Front (MF) opposition youth Anastasiya Palazhanka was banned
April 5 from traveling to Poland. Border guards ejected her from a
train on its way to Warsaw allegedly because she is the subject of
an ongoing criminal investigation opened March 14. Palazhanka
maintained the police did not notify her of any charges against her
and the border guards "had false information." Several leading MF
activists have already been banned from traveling abroad.
4. Former Prisoner to Found Radiation Safety Center
Prominent researcher and former political prisoner Yuriy
Bandozhevskiy announced plans April 4 to establish an international
center for ecology, health, and radiation safety. The
Lithuanian-backed center will conduct research and provide medical
assistance to people in Belarus and the Baltic States living in
areas where the death rate significantly exceeds the birth rate due
to environmental factors. Bandozhevskiy noted the center will
coordinate efforts to help Chernobyl liquidators and their family
members as well as encourage European NGOs to assist Belarusian
children affected by various Chernobyl-related conditions.
5. Prosecutor Extends Investigation into Disappearances
On April 8 the Prosecutor General extended for three months its
nine-year long investigation into the 1999 disappearance of former
Interior Minister and opposition leader Yuriy Zakharenko. Lawyer
Oleg Volchek stated that prosecutors have been extending the
investigation every three months noting "its results will be further
delayed." Volchek expressed no hope that the perpetrators of the
disappearance will be held criminally accountable and expects the
investigation to drag on another sixteen years until the case's
25-year statute of limitations expires.
6. Belarusian TV Broadcast in North America
VILNIUS 00000226 002 OF 002
Senator and Chairperson of the National TV and Radio Broadcasting
Company Aleksandr Zimovskiy told reporters April 8 that the GOB's
decision to begin satellite broadcasting of Belarusian National TV
in North America was in no way connected with the current diplomatic
row with the U.S. Zimovskiy maintained that "Belarus TV would have
entered the North American market no matter what course
international relations took." The channel has been available in
the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala since
March 28 in a package with Russian, Ukrainian, and Armenian
channels.
--------------
Domestic Economy
--------------
7. Belarusians to Pay More for Utilities This Year
An unnamed high-ranking GOB official told Prime-Tass April 7 that
utility costs for individuals must be increased by an additional USD
3 some time this year. Aleksandr Lukashenko's stated policy of
limiting utility increases to USD 5 per year will therefore be
exceeded, as utility fees already rose by that amount January 1.
Though the increase may seem nominal, it represents roughly one per
cent of the average Belarusian's monthly salary.
8. GDP Grows 10.5 Per Cent in First Quarter
Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy announced April 9 that
the country's GDP grew through March by 10.5 per cent. According to
official statistics, industrial output grew 13 per cent and real
income rose 12 per cent.
--------------
International Trade
--------------
9. MFA Releases 2007 Report On Arms Sales Abroad
On April 8 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its 2007
National Report On Export Control Policies, Export of Armaments and
Military Equipment. The report provides general information on
Belarusian arms trade with 50 countries. Eighty-two Belarusian
companies had arms export licenses, including eight new companies
registered in 2007. The GOB issued 250 licenses for import and
export of armaments in 2007. Military analyst Aleksandr Alesin
noted that the structure of Belarus' arms exports changed as Belarus
no longer exports heavy equipment produced in the USSR and now
trades in dual-use technologies, air-defense, and aviation control
systems. As no official financial specifics were provided in the
report, Alesin estimated the value of Belarusian arms exports at USD
300 million.
10. Beer Imports Rise Dramatically
According to government statistics released April 4, Belarus' beer
imports rose in January and February by 64.3 per cent compared to
the same time period last year. Beers from Russia and Ukraine
account for 99.2 per cent of all imports.
11. Trade Deficit with Russia May Reach USD 12 Billion
Belarus' trade deficit with Russia continues to increase. The
deficit reached USD one billion in January 2008 and USD 1.99 billion
by the end of February, putting it on pace to reach USD 12 billion
by the end of the year. In 2007, the deficit with Russia reached
only USD 791.9 million by the end of February. The overall trade
deficit in goods, however, reached only USD 362.3 million for
January-February, due to an improving of positive trade balance with
non-CIS countries. Last year, the overall trade deficit in goods
reached a record high USD 4.3 billion
--------------
12. Quote of the Week
--------------
Member of Parliament Olga Abramova, on the futility and meaningless
of EU sanctions:
"I sometimes get the feeling the EU is just pretending to take a
stand. Sanctions are a very easy way to look like you're doing
something. The EU introduces sanctions and lets society paddle
around together, then waits for things to settle down. It's easier
for them than getting involved with real problems."
Moore
Leader
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON MCAP ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - April 11, 2008
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
--------------
- Official: Opposition Recommendations Constructive (para. 2)
- Opposition Youth Banned From Traveling to Poland (para. 3)
- Former Prisoner to Found Radiation Safety Center (para. 4)
- Prosecutor Extends Investigation into Disappearances (para. 5)
- Belarusian TV Broadcast in North America (para. 6)
Domestic Economy
--------------
- Belarusians to Pay More for Utilities This Year (para. 7)
- GDP Grows 10.5 Per Cent in First Quarter (para. 8)
International Trade
--------------
- MFA Releases 2007 Report On Arms Sales Abroad (para. 9)
- Beer Imports Rise Dramatically (para. 10)
- Trade Deficit with Russia May Reach USD 12 Billion (para. 11)
Quote of the Week (para. 12)
--------------
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. Official: Opposition Recommendations Constructive
Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Nikolay Lozovik
SIPDIS
announced April 7 that he considered the six recommendations that
the United Democratic Forces' (UDF) proposed to improve
implementation of electoral regulations "generally constructive" and
added that the CEC will "thoroughly study" them. For Free and Fair
Elections Campaign Coordinator Viktor Korniyenko maintained that
current electoral laws were not "perfect," but it was not "realistic
to amend them" before parliamentary elections scheduled for
September 2008. The UDF's proposals focus on improving "society's
political standards" and proposed changes to the formation of
precinct electoral commissions and their members' duties,
registration of observers and their rights, ballot-counting
procedures, rules for media coverage of the campaign, and
campaigning procedures.
3. Opposition Youth Banned From Traveling to Poland
Malady Front (MF) opposition youth Anastasiya Palazhanka was banned
April 5 from traveling to Poland. Border guards ejected her from a
train on its way to Warsaw allegedly because she is the subject of
an ongoing criminal investigation opened March 14. Palazhanka
maintained the police did not notify her of any charges against her
and the border guards "had false information." Several leading MF
activists have already been banned from traveling abroad.
4. Former Prisoner to Found Radiation Safety Center
Prominent researcher and former political prisoner Yuriy
Bandozhevskiy announced plans April 4 to establish an international
center for ecology, health, and radiation safety. The
Lithuanian-backed center will conduct research and provide medical
assistance to people in Belarus and the Baltic States living in
areas where the death rate significantly exceeds the birth rate due
to environmental factors. Bandozhevskiy noted the center will
coordinate efforts to help Chernobyl liquidators and their family
members as well as encourage European NGOs to assist Belarusian
children affected by various Chernobyl-related conditions.
5. Prosecutor Extends Investigation into Disappearances
On April 8 the Prosecutor General extended for three months its
nine-year long investigation into the 1999 disappearance of former
Interior Minister and opposition leader Yuriy Zakharenko. Lawyer
Oleg Volchek stated that prosecutors have been extending the
investigation every three months noting "its results will be further
delayed." Volchek expressed no hope that the perpetrators of the
disappearance will be held criminally accountable and expects the
investigation to drag on another sixteen years until the case's
25-year statute of limitations expires.
6. Belarusian TV Broadcast in North America
VILNIUS 00000226 002 OF 002
Senator and Chairperson of the National TV and Radio Broadcasting
Company Aleksandr Zimovskiy told reporters April 8 that the GOB's
decision to begin satellite broadcasting of Belarusian National TV
in North America was in no way connected with the current diplomatic
row with the U.S. Zimovskiy maintained that "Belarus TV would have
entered the North American market no matter what course
international relations took." The channel has been available in
the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala since
March 28 in a package with Russian, Ukrainian, and Armenian
channels.
--------------
Domestic Economy
--------------
7. Belarusians to Pay More for Utilities This Year
An unnamed high-ranking GOB official told Prime-Tass April 7 that
utility costs for individuals must be increased by an additional USD
3 some time this year. Aleksandr Lukashenko's stated policy of
limiting utility increases to USD 5 per year will therefore be
exceeded, as utility fees already rose by that amount January 1.
Though the increase may seem nominal, it represents roughly one per
cent of the average Belarusian's monthly salary.
8. GDP Grows 10.5 Per Cent in First Quarter
Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy announced April 9 that
the country's GDP grew through March by 10.5 per cent. According to
official statistics, industrial output grew 13 per cent and real
income rose 12 per cent.
--------------
International Trade
--------------
9. MFA Releases 2007 Report On Arms Sales Abroad
On April 8 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its 2007
National Report On Export Control Policies, Export of Armaments and
Military Equipment. The report provides general information on
Belarusian arms trade with 50 countries. Eighty-two Belarusian
companies had arms export licenses, including eight new companies
registered in 2007. The GOB issued 250 licenses for import and
export of armaments in 2007. Military analyst Aleksandr Alesin
noted that the structure of Belarus' arms exports changed as Belarus
no longer exports heavy equipment produced in the USSR and now
trades in dual-use technologies, air-defense, and aviation control
systems. As no official financial specifics were provided in the
report, Alesin estimated the value of Belarusian arms exports at USD
300 million.
10. Beer Imports Rise Dramatically
According to government statistics released April 4, Belarus' beer
imports rose in January and February by 64.3 per cent compared to
the same time period last year. Beers from Russia and Ukraine
account for 99.2 per cent of all imports.
11. Trade Deficit with Russia May Reach USD 12 Billion
Belarus' trade deficit with Russia continues to increase. The
deficit reached USD one billion in January 2008 and USD 1.99 billion
by the end of February, putting it on pace to reach USD 12 billion
by the end of the year. In 2007, the deficit with Russia reached
only USD 791.9 million by the end of February. The overall trade
deficit in goods, however, reached only USD 362.3 million for
January-February, due to an improving of positive trade balance with
non-CIS countries. Last year, the overall trade deficit in goods
reached a record high USD 4.3 billion
--------------
12. Quote of the Week
--------------
Member of Parliament Olga Abramova, on the futility and meaningless
of EU sanctions:
"I sometimes get the feeling the EU is just pretending to take a
stand. Sanctions are a very easy way to look like you're doing
something. The EU introduces sanctions and lets society paddle
around together, then waits for things to settle down. It's easier
for them than getting involved with real problems."
Moore
Leader