US embassy cable - 05MINSK826

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MINSK 000826 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ECON, BO 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - July 20, 2005 
 
 
1.  The following are brief items of interest compiled 
by Embassy Minsk over the past week. 
 
 
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Political Developments 
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2.  Students to Serve State 
 
On July 19, the Gomel Regional Soviet adopted a 2005- 
2007 program to engage youths in ideology, sports, arts, 
tourism and ecology during their summer vacations.  The 
plan would support student participation in patriotic 
education, regional ideological contests among 
enterprises, and decoration of schools with national 
symbols.  Teams will landscape school areas, renovate 
buildings and repair WWII graves. 
 
3.  No Nuke Dump 
 
On July 14, the Ministry of Natural Resources and 
Environmental Protection expressed its opposition to the 
construction of a nuclear waste burial ground in 
Lithuania near the Belarusian border.  Belarus fears the 
site would become a nuclear waste dump for other 
European countries and insists that Lithuania's 
neighbors be included in ensuring a proper monitoring 
system.  Lithuania is equally concerned about Belarusian 
plans to build a hydroelectric station on the River 
Neman. 
 
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Human Rights 
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4.  Professor Expelled 
 
On July 13, the Citizenship and Migration Office (CMO) 
notified Terry Boesch, an American citizen living in 
Belarus who had been giving lectures at Belarusian State 
University, that he had to leave Belarus by July 15, 
when his visa expired.  Boesch's earlier attempts to 
renew his visa were denied.  With US Embassy assistance, 
Boesch convinced authorities to give him until July 19 
to pack and retrieve his passport from the CMO.  Boesch 
claimed in press interviews he did not know the reasons 
for his expulsion, as he claimed he avoided contact with 
politics, opposition parties and even the US Embassy 
during his time in Belarus.  A year ago in an interview 
with Belarusian state press, Boesch called USG policy 
toward Belarus "destructive".  Apparently this anti-USG 
stance wasn't enough to keep him in the regime's good 
graces. 
 
5.  Activists Fined 
 
On July 18, authorities fined United Civic Party (UCP) 
activists Arkadz Korkhaw and Vasil Chitayev USD 240 each 
for organizing an unauthorized meeting in a private 
house in Zalesse, Gomel region.  The activists intended 
to nominate delegates to the National Congress until 
police officers disrupted the meeting.  In the Brest 
region, Yury Hubarevich of the Belarusian People's Front 
and Dzmitry Tratstsyak of Belaazyorsk were fined USD 60 
each following their July 9 detainment for visiting a 
village in a border area without proper permission. 
The activists were attending a regional conference in 
Damachava, Brest district to nominate delegates to the 
Congress. 
 
6.  Fined Newspaper was Right 
 
On July 20, newspapers announced that former deputy 
chairman of the Belarusian Artistic Gymnastics 
Association (BGA) Andrei Imanali would stand trial in 
Russia for abduction charges.  Russian law enforcement 
agencies have been looking for Imanali since 2001 in 
connection with his activities as head of a criminal 
gang.  Known in criminal circles as "Semi-Beast", 
Imanali was hiding from prosecution in Belarus where he 
was elected as deputy head of the BGA in 2002.  In 
January, Belarusian Finance Minister and head of the BGA 
Nikolai Korbut won USD 18,430 in a libel suit against 
newspaper Pressbol for publishing an article about 
Imanali's involvement in organized crime.  The Minister 
claimed that the front-page headline, "Belarusian 
finance minister's deputy wanted by Interpol over 
involvement in organized criminal group," defamed his 
name and organization.  Court officials recently seized 
property from the Pressbol owner's home in order to pay 
 
MINSK 00000826  002 OF 004 
 
 
the fine. 
 
7. Activists Harassed 
 
On July 16, police detained UCP leader Anatoli Lebedko, 
activist Igor Shinkarik, and Belarusian Party of 
Communists leader Sergei Kalyakin for organizing an 
unauthorized meeting following a conference to choose 
Congress delegates in Baranovichi, Brest Region. 
According to Lebedko, he and Kalyakin left the police 
station in protest and were surprised that no one chased 
after them.  Shinkarik was released after three hours. 
 
8.  Second Chance for Church 
 
On July 18, the Minsk City Court suspended a decision to 
liquidate the only branch of the Belarusian Evangelical 
Church (BEC) in the country for two months.  However, 
the church must use that time to find new premises and 
register.  The BEC has existed in Belarus since 1992, 
with its office in a private apartment.  National 
legislation banning religious organizations from being 
based in residential housing took effect in 1999 
(similar bans exist for political parties and NGOs). 
Minsk city authorities issued two or three warnings a 
year to BEC for lack of a valid legal address.  In May, 
authorities asked the court to liquidate the BEC for 
failure to acquire a legal address.  Pastor Ernest 
Sabilo, whose apartment is listed as the church's 
office, thinks the GOB is trying to close his church 
because he conducts services in Belarusian.  Sabilo 
remarked the court officials were surprisingly 
sympathetic and helpful to his church. 
 
9.  Authorities Cancel Venue 
 
On July 18, the German-Belarusian Nadezhda Center in 
Vilejka region refused to accommodate a July 19-28 
Summer Human Rights Camp sponsored by the Foundation for 
Legal Technologies (and funded by an embassy Democracy 
Commission grant).  The Foundation had reserved tents 
and classrooms at the Center for 48 law students, 
experts, and trainers in March, but the Center revoked 
the reservation at the last minute after government 
inspectors allegedly found unsanitary conditions at the 
site.  At the camp, students were to study an 
introductory course on human rights, international 
mechanisms of human rights protection, access to 
justice, access to legal aid and organization of legal 
aid in Belarus.  We understand from EU embassies that 
the camp may take place in Prague, if money can be found 
to transport the students there. 
 
10.  Independent Media Under Pressure 
 
On July 15, the Ministry of Information issued a warning 
to the independent newspaper Vitebskiy Kurjer.  The MOI 
accuses the paper of not reregistering after changing 
its name, not including the full name of the founder on 
the newspaper's imprint and not printing the publisher's 
name under the title of the paper. 
 
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Economics 
--------- 
 
11.  Economy Half Bad 
 
According to a July 18 report, 46.6 percent of the 1,471 
enterprises in the National Bank's May survey, including 
53.4 percent of industrial companies, reported 
unfavorable economic conditions for business in Belarus. 
Overall, 48.9 percent noted good conditions, among them 
60 percent of trade companies and eateries, 52.4 percent 
of construction companies and 51.4 percent of transport 
companies. 
 
12.  Profitable Customs 
 
During a July 17 meeting with heads of Belarusian 
diplomatic missions abroad, State Customs Committee 
chairman Alexander Shpilevski informed that customs 
earns USD 18 million daily for the state.  In 2004, the 
State Customs Committee was responsible for 36 percent 
of state budget revenues, but earnings have since 
increased by 13 times.  However, Shpilevski admitted 
corruption exists in the Customs Service since criminals 
are "eager to work somewhere that handles so much 
money."  According to Shpilevski, criminal groups at one 
time controlled entire customs checkpoints.  Due to the 
State Committee's ongoing battle with corruption, these 
 
MINSK 00000826  003 OF 004 
 
 
posts have been closed.  By 2010, the Customs Service 
hopes to have newer technologies, such as electronic 
declarations and signatures in place to deal with the 
long lines at the borders.  Shpilevski believes Belarus 
could become a link between the EU's electronic 
declaration system and the CIS' custom systems. 
 
13.  Targets Met 
 
Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky reported to Lukashenko on 
July 13 that Belarus met 15 of 16 key economic targets 
in January - June.  Industrial and agricultural output 
increased ten percent, exports - 19 percent, imports - 
three percent and investment in fixed assets - 17 
percent.  Unprofitable companies fell from 60 to 24 
percent, falling to nine percent in agriculture. 
Inflation was 0.6 percent.  Average monthly wages 
increased 18 percent to USD 209, and Sidorsky predicted 
it would be USD 250 by year-end. 
 
14.  Bank Takeover 
 
On July 14, Belarus' largest bank, Belarusbank, took 
over ailing MinskKompleksBank in accordance with 
Lukashenko's June 7 decree.  The decree orders 
Belarusbank to finance all expenses of MinskKompleksBank 
within the next five years and to repay the NBB USD 12 
million which it borrowed to compensate individuals who 
had deposits with the bankrupt BelBaltija bank. 
 
15.  State Sets, Liberalizes Prices 
 
On July 14, the GOB set ceiling prices for agricultural 
produce bought under government contracts.  Grain prices 
remain at 2004 levels, but malt barley prices are down 
20 percent, and rapeseed prices - 6.6 percent.  Sugar 
beet prices increased 2.9 percent.  The GOB also drafted 
a price liberalization plan to reduce state control on 
the price of welfare goods over the next five years. 
The state will still control transport, communications 
and power engineering prices. 
 
----------------------- 
International Relations 
----------------------- 
 
16.  Cooperation with Syria 
 
On July 18, Belarusian Ambassador to Syria Vladimir 
Lopato-Zagorski expressed his hope for greater military 
cooperation with Syria since the lack of international 
sanctions has made the market very prospective.  Lopato- 
Zagorski noted how Minsk Aircraft Repairs Plant is 
currently repairing two Tu-134 planes for Syrian 
airlines and hopes to repair more in the future, 
particularly the Yak-40 model.  On its part, Syria is 
considering financing the construction of a USD 25 
million hotel complex in Belarus.  Syria has already 
founded a USD 1.5 million paper hygienic articles plant 
in Zhodino and plans to establish a pharmaceutical joint 
venture.  Exports to Syria declined 4.1 percent on the 
year from January to April, after a 140 percent rise in 
2004, and imports declined by 4.5 percent after a 260 
percent rise.  Lopato-Zagorski also announced on July 19 
that the Minsk Tractor Plant would begin exporting 
tractors to Syria for the first time in 20 years. 
According to Lopato-Zagorski, Belarus sent tractors to 
Syria in the late 1990s, but they were then transited to 
Iraq as part of the Oil for Food program.  In 2005, 20 
MTZ tractors were supplied to Syria and Belarus would 
supply more if Syrian officials would accept more 
powerful 70 hp engines rather than the 45-50 hps. 
 
17.  Welcome to Iran 
 
On July 14, Iranian Ambassador to Belarus, Abdolhamid 
Fekri, announced that Belarusian tourists can now 
receive free seven-day tourist visas upon arrival at 
Tehran, Esfahan, Tabriz or Mashad airports.  Fekri 
admitted Iran is not the most popular tourist 
destination for Belarusians because of the heat and lack 
of direct flights.  However, he claimed that Iran's 
diplomatic mission is trying to establish direct flights 
from Minsk to Tehran along with a tour of Iran for 
Belarusian journalists.  Fekri mentioned how bilateral 
relations between the two countries has been developing 
"every day and every hour" after Iranian President 
Mohammed Khatami's 2004 visit to Minsk.  According to 
the Turkmen ambassador, the Iranian embassy recently 
bought a large tract of land outside of Minsk, 
reportedly to build residences for its staff. 
 
MINSK 00000826  004 OF 004 
 
 
 
18.  Plane Maintenance in Bahrain 
 
The State Aviation Committee announced on July 19 its 
plans to open an aircraft maintenance center in Bahrain. 
The center will service IL-76 cargo planes of Belarusian 
state-run company Transaviaexport.  These planes fly to 
the Middle East, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
 
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Anti-US 
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19.  US Surrounding Russia 
 
On July 18, the state-owned daily Sovetskaya Belarussiya 
reprinted an article from the German paper Junge Welt 
about revolution in Belarus.  The article alleged that 
the topic of the American Enterprise Institute's 
November 14, 2002 conference was "overthrowing the 
President of Belarus as the last dictator of Europe". 
He lists Radio Liberty, Freedom House, the National 
Endowment for Democracy and the US Embassy in Belarus as 
organizers of the event.  The paper accused former head 
of the OSCE mission in Belarus Hans-George Wieck of 
being "the most active propagandist aiming to overthrow 
the regime."  Sovetskaya Belarussiya added that the 
Belarus Democracy Act initially caused a large stir, but 
was later softened, as the US did not want to lose 
Russia's friendship. 
 
20.  USA to Destroy Slavs 
 
According to a July 13 article in the pro-government 
newspaper Belorusskaya Niva, the West, particularly the 
USA, wants to destroy the Slavic world in order to 
subdue it.  Author Oleg Stepanenko asserts that the West 
deliberately tries to wipe out the Slavic people's "self- 
respect" in order to "stir them up against each other." 
The West sees Belarus as one of the few states left that 
resists US expansion.  Stepanenko opined that Slavic 
states should form their own Slavic Europe to fight 
modern neo-fascism.  This article continues the theme of 
the "World Slavic Conference" hosted in Minsk in early 
July at which numerous speakers from the communist camp 
in Slavic countries railed against US imperialism and 
derided their own countries "subjugation" to the 
American empire, while calling Belarus and Russia the 
only free countries in Slavdom. 
 
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Miscellaneous 
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21.  Suicides Increasing 
 
Police reported five suicides in Minsk on July 18. 
Prosecutors are investigating the four adult and one 
juvenile deaths.  Psychiatrists reported a steady 
increase of suicides in recent years among both 
urbanites and rural residents.   Drug addicts and 
alcoholics account for many of the deaths, making 
suicide the fourth most widespread cause of death, after 
cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms and respiratory 
diseases.  Belarus has the fifth highest suicide rate in 
the CIS after Lithuania, Russia, Latvia and Estonia. 
 
22.  Public Files Complaints 
 
Constitutional Court Chairman Grigory Vasilevich 
announced to reporters on July 15 that since January, 
the Court has received 2,500 complaints about the 
constitutionality of the country's regulations, 
particularly housing, labor, administrative and criminal 
laws.  In response, the Court suggested the government 
make it easier for individuals to recover funds from 
investment construction companies and extend monthly 
utility bill deadlines until after payday.  The GOB also 
abolished a charge on temporary stays for foreigners in 
Minsk. 
 
 
KROL