News, opinion, sports and culture
E-mail: 
Belarus and th EU; Russian food bans, WTO, EuroSec, PACE, Tymoshenko, Opposition, Offencive Polish scandlas, Sport and Culture
| #417 |
Alexander Lukashenko: Belarus-EU relations are a long-time strategic policy
From: BelTA
 |
| The President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, greets Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar of the Republic of Slovenia |
“You can rest assured that all the things going on in relations with our western partner, the European Union, are not an exceptional step on our part, not some game, it is the pursuance of our long-time strategic policy,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. He underscored that the motives are simple: at present Belarus-EU trade is roughly equal to Belarus-Russia trade while the former boasts a surplus. “That says it all. Nobody will dare ignore the fact. The European Union means technologies, credit resources, investments,” said the head of state.
The President confirmed that this vector of cooperation is very important for Belarus. Addressing the Slovenian Foreign Minister, the President said he hopes the visit will give another boost to the cooperation and will contribute to improving political cooperation between the two countries as well as cooperation between Belarus and the European Union.
Speaking about trade and economic relations, the President of Belarus remarked that among countries of the former Yugoslavia the trade development is fastest with Slovenia. In 2008 Belarus-Slovenia trade reached $92 million. In January-April 2009 the figure nearly reached $21 million. Many Slovenian businessmen work effectively in Belarus and Belarus will continue supporting Slovenian businessmen, said Alexander Lukashenko.
The head of state remarked that Belarus has declared a clear policy supporting business from republics of the former Yugoslavia. Alexander Lukashenko met with representatives of Serbian business circles a while ago. Belarus has hosted an exhibition of Serbian products, which turned out to be quite popular.
“We have a serious foundation to build the future cooperation with Slovenia on. It is worth a lot because we don’t have that in our relations with other countries,” said the Belarusian head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko reminded that Belarus and Slovenia established good relations back in the time of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. “Yugoslavia had the most advanced achievements of the socialist bloc. Perhaps at that time you had the economy development pattern that we aspire to achieve today,” remarked the head of state.
In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Samuel Zbogar confirmed that Slovenia and Belarus have been good partners for a long time. “I am here today in order to explore opportunities, in order to transfer the good relations of our past into the future,” he said.
A delegation of around 40 businessmen representing Slovenian business circles is staying in Minsk. Samuel Zbogar said that it confirms Slovenia’s profound interest in promoting business relations with Belarus. The business delegation includes executives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, representatives of the Slovenian Bank for Export and Development, directors and representatives of companies involved in high technologies, telecommunications, metalworking, machine tool engineering, tourism, logistics as well as the production of construction materials, electric equipment, bathroom fixtures, dry food, alcohol beverages.
Belarus intent on stepping up cooperation with Europe
Belarus will remain intent on stepping up the European vector of cooperation, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Samuel Zbogar on June 8.
“You can rest assured that all the developments in relations with our western partner, the European Union, is not an exceptional step on our part, not some game, it is the pursuance of our long-time strategic policy,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. He underscored that the motives are simple: at present Belarus-EU trade is roughly equal to Belarus-Russia trade while the former boasts a surplus. “That says it all. Nobody will dare ignore the fact. The European Union means technologies, credit resources, investments,” said the head of state.
The President confirmed that this vector of cooperation is very important for Belarus. Addressing the Slovenian Foreign Minister, the President said he hopes the visit will give another boost to the cooperation and will contribute to improving political cooperation between the two countries as well as cooperation between Belarus and the European Union.
Speaking about trade and economic relations, the President of Belarus remarked that among countries of the former Yugoslavia the trade development is fastest with Slovenia. Many Slovenian businessmen work effectively in Belarus and Belarus will continue supporting Slovenian businessmen. The head of state remarked that Belarus has declared a clear policy supporting business from republics of the former Yugoslavia. Alexander Lukashenko met with representatives of Serbian business circles a while ago. Belarus has hosted an exhibition of Serbian products, which turned out to be quite popular.
“We have a serious foundation to build the future cooperation with Slovenia on. It is worth a lot because we don’t have that in our relations with other countries,” said the Belarusian head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko reminded that Belarus and Slovenia established good relations during the Soviet Union times. “Yugoslavia had the most advanced achievements of the socialist bloc. Perhaps at that time you had the economy development pattern that we aspire to achieve today,” remarked the head of state.
Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan to accede to WTO as single customs area
From: BelTA
 |
According to the statement, the process of acceding to the WTO has been impeding integration. Therefore a decision was taken to notify the World Trade Organization about the intention of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan to engage in the relevant negotiations.
According to Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky, Belarus confirms its intention to join the organization, but now the country’s position will be coordinated with the other members of the Customs Union.
EurAsEC needs to remove interstate barriers in trade, Sergei Sidorsky says
Under present-day conditions the EurAsEC countries should remove all existing interstate barriers and exclude application of protective measures in the mutual trade, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told reporters in Minsk before leaving for Moscow to participate in the session of the EurAsEC Interstate Council on June 9.
Putting restrictions in the mutual trade during the crisis would only exacerbate the situation in the production cooperation and undermine regular payments between the EurAsEC economic agents, Sergei Sidorsky stressed. The stance of the Republic of Belarus has always been for creating favourable conditions to expand the mutual trade between the EurAsEC member-states.
The issue topping the agenda of the forthcoming session is the implementation of the joint measures to overcome the consequences of the global economic downturn in the EurAsEC countries.
In the session in December 2008, the EurAsEC Interstate Council approved the joint measures to overcome the consequences of the global financial crisis. The sides have elaborated an action plan on the implementation of the aforesaid measures.
Unfortunately, the coordination of the action plan took half a year, the Belarusian Premier stressed. Major difficulties arose in coordinating the use of the EurAsEC national currencies in the payments and as the regional reserve currencies, and also the coordinated policy to support the domestic food market.
The Belarusian side considers that the lack of such an important mutual commitment of the EurAsEC member-states in the action plan as the obligation “to refrain from imposing temporary protective measures in the mutual trade” will come to naught all the efforts to coordinate the policy of the EurAsEC countries in the part of supporting the domestic market, the Premier added. In this respect the EurAsEC’s major goal is to remove all existing interstate barriers and exclude the application of protective measures in the mutual trade between the EurAsEC countries.
Belarus is going to offer the Council for Financial and Economic Policy to set up task groups on coordinating joint measures and undertake prompt actions in order to implement them.
Vladimir Andreichenko: Belarus takes concrete steps to normalize relations with Europe
From: BelTA
 |
“We are interested in a dialogue with PACE. The restoration of Belarus’ special guest status could become a logical step from the side of the Council of Europe in reply to the steps taken by our country,” the Belarusian Speaker underscored.
Belarus is interested in the mutually beneficial relations and equitable dialogue with Europe, establishing the close bilateral contacts with the European countries including Slovenia. Slovenia is a promising partner for Belarus in the Balkan region, Vladimir Andreichenko noted. According to him, the visit of the Slovenian Foreign Minister to Belarus will give an impetus to development of political relations, interparliamentary, trade and economic cooperation.
The Speaker noted that the Belarusian side welcomes the decision of the PACE political commission to support Belarus’ special guest status. “We would really appreciate if the PACE session supports this resolution. It will become the first step on the way of rapprochement of Belarus with the European standards and help us implement the most important European values such as democracy and human rights. We hope that Slovenia will become our ally to normalize relations with the European countries,” Vladimir Andreichenko noted.
In turn, Samuel Zbogar expressed confidence that Belarus’ special guest status will be restored. He noted that he intends to appeal to European parliamentarians to vote for the restoration of Belarus’ special guest status in the PACE. The Slovenian Foreign Minister noted that he will do his utmost to bring closer Belarus and the Council of Europe.
He also noted that Slovenia is ready for active cooperation with Belarus within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Programme. Belarus and Slovenia have good relations which will be strengthened in the future, the foreign guest is sure. He also noted that at present, Slovenian businessmen are considering the possibilities of economic cooperation with Belarus, seeking business partners to implement the mutually beneficial projects and set up joint ventures.
Council of Europe information office to open in Minsk June 8
An official ceremony of opening the information office of the Council of Europe in Minsk is scheduled for June 8, 2009, BelTA learnt from Council of Europe press attache Estelle Steiner.
The main goal of the information office is to popularize the activity of the Council of Europe, to tell people about its tasks and priorities. The information office will be located in the Journalism Institute of Belarusian State University.
Attending the opening ceremony will be acting chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Foreign Minister of Slovenia Samuel Zbogar, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio and PACE Rapporteur on Belarus Andrea Rigoni, others.
According to the press attache, the information office will promote arranging the events of the Council of Europe, developing cooperation with local and central authorities and a dialogue between Belarus and the Council of Europe.
Vitebsk to host International Chagall Readings
From: BelTA
 |
The pre-design variant of the Chagall International Centre in Vitebsk was created by the team of architects led by famous Belarusian architect Leonid Levin. The project has been already displayed at investment forums in Vitebsk and Minsk. According to Ludmila Khmelnitskaya, potential investors showed a considerable interest in the project.
“The project includes the reconstruction of almost a quarter of the historical part of Vitebsk. It is important for development of the tourist potential of the city,” the director of the Chagall Museum noted. The Vitebsk architects, artists, historians and other specialists have been engaged to discuss the project.
The International Chagall Readings will be held in Vitebsk on June 14. An exhibition of Moscow artist Boris Bomshtein will open the readings.
Belarus to host 2010 Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Belarus is able to hold the Junior Eurovision Song Contest at the highest level. It was stated by Svante Stockselius, the Head of Song Contests at the European Broadcasting Union, and the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the Eurovision official web-site informs.
The 8th Junior Eurovision Contest is expected to be held in the Minsk-Arena Centre in the Belarusian capital on November 20, 2010. More than 20 countries are supposed to be involved in participation in the contest. In 2009, the Junior Eurovision Contest will be held in Kiev on November 21. Some 13 countries will take part in the contest.
Swedish film festival opens in Minsk
The Swedish contemporary film festival will take place in Minsk and Mogilev on June 8-17, the Embassy of Sweden in Belarus told BelTA.
The festival will be held as part of the traditional days of culture of Sweden in Belarus, which will be held for the eighth time already. The festival will include four films. This is Everlasting Moments, a drama by Jan Troell. The film will be shown in Minsk on June 8.
Minsk and Mogilev will see Daniel Alfredson’s drama Wolf on June 9-17. Jens Jonsson’s drama King of Ping-Pong will be demonstrated in Minsk and Mogilev on June 11-16. On June 12, the Minsk audience will be able to see Amir Chamdin’s God Willing.
Belarus budget to continue caring for people
From: BelTA
 |
The vector will remain unchanged even despite the more complicated economic situation. Sergei Sidorsky remarked that large countries with a capacious home market such as Russia, China and the USA stimulate the home market to reduce the effect of the falling foreign demand. However, major financial resources are required to pursue the policy of stimulating the domestic demand. “Our country does not have such resources. This is why we have to pursue the policy of curtailing government expenses, optimising government programmes and other ones, using foreign loans for specific goals,” said Sergei Sidorsky.
Unemployment in Belarus down to 0.9%
As of June 1, 2009, the unemployment rate in Belarus was posted at 0.9%, down 0.1 percentage point from May 1, BelTA learnt from the chief employment and population office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. As of June 1, 2008, the unemployment rate stood at 1%.
Belarus is currently experiencing a seasonal rise in employment. During summer the demand for labour force in construction, agriculture, trade and other sectors usually grows.
The situation on the labour market is in control. The unemployment rate does not exceed the relevant projections for 2009 which are 1.1-1.2% to the workforce. There is no need to take urgent steps to create additional jobs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection said.
As for the Belarusian regions, the recorded unemployment rate was the highest in the Vitebsk oblast (1.3%), followed by the Gomel (1.2%) Grodno (1.1%) and Brest (1.1%) oblasts. The recorded unemployment rate was 0.9% in the Minsk oblast, 0.4% in Minsk and 1% in the Mogilev oblast.
As of June 1, 2009, number of people who were registered as the unemployed was 43,200 people.
Russia says Eurasec could lend Belarus $500 mln
From: Ria Novosti
 |
Russia has said it will contribute $7.5 billion to the Eurasian Economic Community (Eurasec) anti-crisis fund, which member states agreed to set up at a recent summit in Moscow.
The minister said "all options are on the table" on the issue of loans to Belarus, and that the anti-crisis fund would be created within the next two months.
Belarus earlier refused to accept a $500 million loan denominated in Russian rubles, asking for U.S. dollars.
In late May, Kudrin criticized Belarusian economic policies, saying that the ex-Soviet republic was spending too much of its gold and foreign currency reserves to keep the exchange rate stable.
After the dispute over the loan, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told his Cabinet ministers to resist Russian pressure and to seek partners in other countries.
Last year, Lukashenko secured a $2 billion loan from Russia to help the economy through the financial crisis, and a deal to receive Russian natural gas at a subsidized rate. Belarus received the first $1 billion in November 2008. In March 2009, the country received another $500 million.
However, relations between Moscow and Minsk have been strained in recent years, largely due to Russia raising its gas price.
The $10 billion Eurasec anti-crisis fund is being established to counter problems in economies and financial markets of member states.
The Eurasian Economic Community, established in 2000, comprises Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Three other former Soviet republics - Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine - have observer status.
Russia set to impose import ban on more Belarusian dairy products
From: Navany
 |
Rospotrebnadzor may add 800 Belarusian dairy products to its import ban list that currently features some 500 Belarusian products.
“An additional analysis has revealed that procedures of complying with technical standards for milk and dairy products and updating documents in the Smolensk and Bryansk provinces were marred by apparent violations,” the news agency quoted Russia’s chief sanitary officer, Gennady Onishchenko, as saying.
Rospotrebnadzor will cancel 406 sanitary approvals issued by the authorities in the Bryansk province for Belarusian dairy products and reject 107 applications filed in the province for the Belarusian imports, according to Mr. Onishchenko.
As for the Smolensk province, Mr. Onishchenko said, 198 delivery permits will be scrapped and 92 applications will be dismissed.
Rospotrebnadzor enacted the ban on almost 500 types of Belarusian diary products on June 6, citing the producers’ failure to obtain necessary permits in accordance with Russia’s new food standards in effect since December 2008.
Belarus` deputy prime minister, Ivan Bambiza, played down the ban. The ban mainly applies to products that Belarusian exporters are not planning to make or deliver to Russia any longer, the vice premier said.
Mr. Onishchenko expressed doubt that talks with Belarus on the ban “are possible.”
“As for the talks, Rospotrebnadzor has to backtrack on its intention voiced earlier to enter the talks with the Belarusian side because its officials say that the problem is far-fetched,” Mr. Onishchenko said. “We think that it is unwise to worry our Belarusian colleagues over far-fetched matters and we offer apologies for the disturbance.”
Andrea Rigoni: Restoring Special Guest status in PACE for Belarus should not be viewed as gift
From: Navany
 |
On May 26, PACE’s Political Affairs Committee voted to restore Special Guest status in PACE for a delegation from Belarus, which was suspended in 1997. The Assembly is expected to consider the issue on June 23.
“Granting this status has been made dependent on examinations for compliance with the Council of Europe’s standards,” Mr. Rigoni said. “My report specifies certain criteria for the Belarusian government with regard to the democratization of the country. In particular, we suggest respecting fundamental democratic values such as freedom of association, freedom of the press and freedom of expression, as well as declaring a moratorium on the death penalty and revising Belarus’ electoral regulations.”
“All this process is subject to monitoring, which will be carried out by PACE’s Political Affairs Committee and Subcommittee on Belarus and involve both members of Belarus’ National Assembly and opposition politicians,” Mr. Rigoni said.
“My report sets a period of one year for verifying progress in this direction,” Mr. Rigoni said. “And these are not empty words, as the Council of Europe and PACE want to see specific results. In a year, Belarus’ Special Guest status may be cancelled or extended depending on the findings of the examination.”
Mr. Rigoni also pointed out that if PACE decided to restore the status, that would mean that not only members of the National Assembly but also a delegation of Belarus’ opposition forces would be invited to PACE sessions.
PACE will also continue to follow developments regarding the 1999-2000 high-profile disappearances, Mr. Rigoni said. If Belarus gets Special Guest status, “this will give us leverage to press for investigating those cases,” he noted.
According to Mr. Rigoni, the new policy of the Council of Europe regarding Belarus suggests that the organization “is looking for new ways of influencing the situation.”
“We saw that the isolation of Belarus, the de facto self-isolation on the part of the Belarusian authorities, did not bring any good to the nation,” he said. “The situation has in fact been frozen for a decade. We believe that the time has come to act more actively so that the voice of the Council of Europe will be heard in Belarus and the realization of the need to respect human rights and the principles of a rule-of-law state will grow in the country. We want to push the Belarusian government to establish a constructive and productive dialogue.”
Mr. Rigoni described the opening of a CoE information point in Minsk later in the day as one of the steps toward rapprochement between the Council of Europe and Belarus. “It will be a small center for the time being, but if we restore the Special Guest status, we’ll be able to ask for the establishment of a large CoE office in Minsk, that is, to increase the presence of the organization in Belarus so that people will be able to learn more about the CoE,” he said.
Belarus’ national legislature held Special Guest status in PACE between September 1992 and January 1997. The status was suspended in 1997 as a consequence of a November 1996 constitutional referendum, which the CoE found to be undemocratic, as well as restrictions on democratic freedoms such as freedom of expression under the rule of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Shortly after that, Belarus’s application to join the Council of Europe was frozen, and it remains the only European nation that is not a member of the organization.
Special Guest status was created by PACE in the 1990s to help countries meet the conditions to become full members of the Council of Europe. It enables parliamentarians to take part in the Assembly’s activities, but without the right to vote.
Full blockade: Russia banned import of 1,300 more Belarusian goods
From: Charter '97
 |
“As additional research has found, technical for milk and milk products, following milk and milk products technical regulations, re-drawing up documents at the territory of Smolensk and Bryansk region where made with apparent violation of such kind of procedures,” RIA Novosti was informed by Gennady Onishchenko, chief sanitary officer of Russia.
As said by him, as a result 406 hygiene certificates issued and re-executed for milk products in Bryansk region for Belarusian products, are to be withdrawn. 107 applications of Russian suppliers in Bryansk region for Belarusian goods are to face the same situation.
As for Smolensk region, Gennady Onishchenko, said that deliveries made under 198 issued permits, are to be suspended, and 92 more documents on the waiting list are to be withdrawn.
On June 6 the head of the Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service banned the import of 500 types of milk product from Belarus. It was said that said, the Belarusian producers hadn’t obtained approvals required by Russia’s new regulations enacted as far back as December 2008.
Gennady Onishchenko also stated that talks with Belarus on “milk” problem are hardly possible: “As for talks: “Rospotrebnadzor is forced to withdraw its previously voiced request for negotiations with Belarus, since some of its officials view the problem as 'farfetched.' We find it incautious to bother our Belarusian colleagues over farfetched problems and apologize for the inconvenience”.
On June 5 Russian Prime minister Vladimir Putin stated necessity to create single business terms for subsidizing agriculture products manufacturers in Russia and Belarus. As said by him, subsidies given by Belarus to its dairy manufacturers reach 24%, while in Russia they make only about 3%.
The Premier said he touched upon this issue in contacts with Belarusian partners, and they expressed readiness to discuss subsidies issue in negotiations. V. Putin underlined however: “I know very well in which regime these approaches are being worked out by our colleague. It may be long, so I have given an order to customs service to formulate offers which would allow us to create necessary conditions for carrying out this negotiations process”.
On June 1 in an interview to major Russian media A. Lukashenka accused Russia of limiting deliveries of Belarusian food products, which are cheap because of state subsidies to the agricultural industry.
Mikalai Autukhovich’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka complained to the prosecutor’s office of Belarus against actions of the investigation
From: Viasna
 |
Bear in mind that the case against Vaukavysk entrepreneur Mikalai Autukhovich was brought in the beginning of February and still hasn’t been passed to court. On 2 June the investigation was extended for another month. The entrepreneur is accused of arson of a policeman’s house though another man has already served punishment for this crime and the victim has no pretensions to Mikalai Autukhovich. The accused has been keeping a hunger-strike since 16 April, demanding either that the case be passed to court or he was released under recognizance not to leave. During the hunger-strike he has lost more than 25 kilograms.
Belarusian Green Party is indignant at mass killing of dogs in Minsk
The Belarusian Green Party demands from the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly to urgently adopt a law that would protect animals from violent treatment. This demand is set forth a resolution of the central council of the BGP.
As stated to the BelaPAN by the leader of the party Aleh Novikau, the reason for the address to the authorities is that last week mass putting down of homeless dogs took place at Minsk enterprise City’s Fauna that deals with capture and keeping of homeless animals. The majority of the animals were healthy, vaccinated and were taken care after by volunteers.
According to some sources, the administration of the enterprise intends to hold such actions regularly.
‘During the last months a serious deterioration of the conditions for animals could be observed at the enterprise. The administration of City’s Fauna restricts the access of the volunteers who spend their means and efforts on easing the suffering of the animals,’ is stated in the BGP resolution.
The party demands humanization of the legal provisions for capture and keeping of homeless animals. ‘In order to achieve this, the services that deal with it must be excluded from the system of the housing economy as soon as possible, because of the specific according to which living beings are considered only as garbage that needs to be liquidated,’ believes Mr. Novikau.
He says, the BGP is ready to work out the appropriate draft law and pass it to the Chamber of Representatives and the center for lawmaking at the presidential administration. ‘I hope that this draft law will be ready by the autumn session of the parliament,’ said Aleh Novikau.
The party members are also calling all concerned people to take animals away from City’s Fauna in order to provide normal life conditions to them.
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan plan joint WTO bid
From: Forbes
 |
Russia, the largest country outside the 153-member trade body, had been pushing for membership for well over a decade and the European Union's trade chief said last week the negotiations could finally be completed by the end of this year.
Kazakhstan started WTO talks in 1996 but has continuously put off the accession deadline.
Negotiations will now be started afresh, on the basis of a new customs zone between the three former Soviet states, their leaders said in a joint statement read out by Putin.
The leaders agreed 'to inform WTO about the intention to start WTO accession talks for the customs union of Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia as a single customs zone'.
The joint customs zone will be created from Jan. 1, 2010, the statement said.
'Our priority remains WTO entry, we confirm this, but already as a united customs union, and not as separate countries,' Putin said.
Pa. calls Russia’s pork-import ban ‘unnecessary’
From: Philidelphia Inquirer
 |
Russia also is swearing off all pork from Connecticut in its ever-expanding ban - now up to 13 states - stemming from concerns over the spreading H1N1 virus.
Though the virus was also commonly referred to as "swine flu," no links between it and pork products have been established, said Chris Ryder, spokesman for Pennsylvania's agriculture department.
"Humans cannot get the illness from pork products," Ryder said. "That ban on trade is unnecessary, in our eyes."
And it is costly. Of the $4.9 billion in pork products the United States exported last year, $476 million worth went to Russia, said Nick Giordano, vice president of the National Pork Producers Council in Washington.
In Pennsylvania, pork exports accounted for 1,606 jobs and $67.5 million in personal income by the end of 2007, the most recent data available from the council.
Also hitting hard is an almost complete ban on all U.S. pork products by China. Last year, pork exports to China-Hong Kong totaled $690 million, Giordano said.
According to Pennag Industries Association, which advocates for the state's agri-businesses, Pennsylvania's gross income from pork production is valued at $211.5 million.
The state's hog inventory is ranked 12th in the nation, with 1.16 million hogs and pigs on 3,637 farms.
Ukraine PM to stand for president
From: BBC
 |
In a statement broadcast live on national TV, Ms Tymoshenko said she would win, adding that the government would be "strong and not venal".
The prime minister was one of the leaders of the 2004 Orange Revolution, but her alliance with current President Viktor Yushchenko has become a rivalry.
Scandals have left Ukraine without foreign, defence and finance ministers.
Defence Minister Yuri Yekhanurov, seen as an ally of Mr Yushchenko, was sacked by MPs on Friday in a motion put forward by Ms Tymoshenko's allies.
Mr Yushchenko has been critical of plans by Ms Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych in order to amend the constitution to abolish direct presidential elections.
The president has already said he will stand again in the January elections.
Correspondents say his rivalry with Ms Tymoshenko has paralysed the workings of government.
Children’s book offends Jewish people
From: News.Pol
 |
The book by Joanna Furgalilska titled “Entliczek, pentliczek...best Polish rhymes” has just been published and promoted in Empik. This controversial publication which incensed many parents and teachers seems to be very controversial. According to experts this book is anti-Semitic, anti-German and anti-gypsy. Anna Kurczowska-Ossoli?ska wanted to by the book but fortunately she checked its content. Then she realized that the book contains prohibited information.
“I want to teach my sons how to be tolerating for other nations and different people. If I had given them this book they would have learnt many bad things. I am sure that this book should not be given to small children” – underlined Anna Kurczowska-Ossolilska.
Actress in political ad beaten
From: The News
 |
The actress was brutally assaulted in front of her house by a group of young men last Saturday.
Anna Cugier-Kotka, who first appeared in an advertisement for the Civic Platform party in 2007 turned up in the central role in an advert for the opposition Law and Justice, for the European parliamentary elections last Sunday.
The actress says that, earlier, after the ad was first aired, she received threatening text messages and emails. She has also accused the police of refusing to file her report after the mugging.
Rent-a-mum changes mind?
From: The News
 |
This is the first such case in Poland where a surrogate mother has ‘rented out’ her womb and found that, after nine months, she did not want to give up the child she carried.
The couple who paid Bozena K. for carrying a child for them were required to threaten legal action unless she give up her rights to the baby.
“Probably, [the mother] would get the child back because, from a legal point of view, she is the mother. If a man, who ‘rented’ her is the child’s biological father, then there would be a true court case over custody of the newborn,” Judge Robert Zagadla from the Warsaw District Courts told the daily Dziennik when asked about Bozena K.’s chances of winning the court case.
In Poland it is not illegal to hire a surrogate mother when one is incapable of conceiving normally because Poland has not ratified European law on bioethics which bans the practice.
Poles will die out?
From: News.popl
 |
The birth rate in Poland has reached a level of 1.27. To a natural generation exchange it should be kept at the level of 2.11. Moreover situation is getting worse and worse. For last 20 years (1983-2003) the number of births has fallen by a half.
The only possible solution to this problem is following the example of other Western countries such as France and UK that import workers from Asia and Africa. The catholic newspaper “Go Niedzielny” quotes a historian Niell Ferguson, who claims that there has been the sharpest fall in population since a Black Death epidemic in XIV century.
Belarus’ ice hockey extra league to expand in new season
From: BelTA
 |
Latvian Latgale from Daugavpils can join those 15 ice hockey clubs which confirmed their participation in the mid May. In case Daugavpils team is admitted to the Belarusian open ice hockey championship, the extra league new season will include eleven Belarusian, four Latvian and one Ukrainian clubs. Among the Belarusian ice hockey teams will be Yunost (Minsk), Gomel, Metallurg (Zhlobin), Khimvolokno (Mogilev), Vitebsk, Keramin (Minsk), Neman (Grodno), Khimik-SKA (Novopolotsk), Shinnik (Bobruisk), Brest and Shakhter (Soligorsk).
By July 1, the clubs are to confirm they have no debts and guarantee they have a minimal sum for the participation in the championship.
Victoria Azarenka back to WTA No.8
In the rankings issued by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on June 8, nineteen-year-old Belarusian Victoria Azarenka has returned to No.8 in the singles. In the doubles she raised from No.23 to No.14, BelTA reports.
Victoria Azarenka reached the Roland Garros quarterfinal yielding to top-ranked Dinara Safina of Russia.
The Top 10 Rankings as of June 8, 2009, feature Dinara Safina (Russia) 9801 points, Serena Williams (U.S.) – 8158 points, Venus Williams (U.S.) – 7217 points, Elena Dementieva (Russia) – 6591, Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) – 6191, Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) – 6100, Vera Zvonareva (Russia) - 5360, Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) – 4746, Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) – 4350, Nadia Petrova (Russia) – 3760.
Sergey Svetlakov: To censor “ProjectorParisHilton” is silly childish games
From: Charter '97
 |
As we have informed, placing a video of the TV program displeasing the Belarusian authorities could be one of the reasons for the massive DdoS-attack which has paralyzed the work of our website these days.
- Sergey Svetlakov, how would you comment on the fact that Belarusian authorities censor the “ProjectorParisHilton” program and do not let you jokes about Lukashenka on air?
- Thank Heaven, Internet exists, and those who are searching are sure to find. That’s the way I would comment on it.
- Why Lukashenka is so afraid of Svetlakov, Urgant, Martirosyan and Tsekalo?
- It seems to me, he is not afraid of us. He is more afraid of himself. Why should he be afraid of us? Can one be afraid of jokes? People make jokes about Lukashenka for such a long time, both in Club of the cheerful and sharp-witted and in Comedy Club, that he should have developed immunity to them. We are also making fun and comment on things which are taking place in the world from our own positions. To block “ProjectorParisHilton” program for Belarus is a silly childish game. Everybody understands that those who want to see it will watch it anyway. Isn’t it right? When I learnt that we are blocked in Belarus, I was not surprised at all. I do not see any problems or sensations in that at all.
- Do you understand that now you have become “frost-bitten heads” too?
- It’s like in chemistry. There are two elements, and they are not to make a compound necessarily, even when they are in the same flask. I do not draw any conclusions. I am not opposition. In the “ProjectorParisHilton” program I discuss concrete actions. A person has done something, and I express my opinion. I do not want to be enumerated among “frost-bitten heads” or “ass-lickers”. I express my personal opinion. And thankfully I have a mouthpiece for that, in this case at the First Channel.
- By the way, you haven’t taken part in the latest “ProjectorParisHilton” program on purpose, have you? Did you know Lukashenka’s anger would be awful?
- It’s silly to be afraid of something. I am not afraid of anything even in our country, and I do not fear anything in other countries. Unfortunately, on my return from the US I was ailing a little, so I couldn’t participate in the program, though I wanted very much to do so.
In reality, everything could be done, when it’s done carefully, wisely. I am against all radical things. Jokes can be told about anyone, and understanding could be found with anyone. The main thing is not to rush into extremes: not to be up in arms and take to the streets, or to lick the ass. That’s all.
- How long ago were you in Belarus last time? How do you take a prospect that after being non grata persons virtually, you are to be banned entry to Belarus in reality?
- Last time I was in Belarus about half a year ago. Previously I visited Belarus more often, once in three or four months. Anyway, I have many friends here. I have work here periodically. I visit Minsk because I have friends here, and on business. And I greatly doubt that I could become a non grata person. I have even visited the US, so I think I would be allowed to enter Belarus.
When I entered the US Embassy, Americans repeated “ProjectorParisHilton” in English and asked: “Is the US yum-yum?” I said: “Yes”. I though they certainly won’t issue a visa for me. But they gave me a visa with pleasure and said: “Everything is all right, you can go. You may say any jokes you like”. As for Belarus, I think that our visit would cause greater scandal than our non-arrival.
Our concert will possibly take place in Minsk. Someday. We had offers about a concern for “ProjectorParisHilton” long ago. I think it would be a very amusing concert anyway, if it takes place.
- Why hasn’t there been your concert in Minsk so far?
- It’s hard for four of us to gather together. Moreover, in summer we go to different places. One has left for Europe for a month and a half, the other to a different place. This weekend the last “ProjectorParisHilton” will be broadcast, and then there will be a break till autumn. And in autumn everything is possible. We are sure to tour somewhere in autumn. It is not commerce for us any more, but creative development, new blood, communication with people.
- Sergey, what would you like to say to your viewers in Belarus, and to viewers of the Charter’97 website?
- I would like to wish all of you good health and clever thoughts.
