The British embassy at Minsk, acting in its capacity as the representative in the Republic of Belarus of the Spanish presidency of the EU, hereby relays the EU Declaration of 4 June 2002 on Belarus-OSCE relations:

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French charge d’affaires in Belarus Aleksas Shahnatinsky speaking at the evening party in the Druzhby Narodov palace, dedicated to the tenth anniversary since the establishing of diplomatic relations between France and Belarus, said something quite unpleasant for the Belarusian authorities’ ear. “BDG” quotes him as saying the following: “I regret the decision of the Belarusian authorities concerning the OSCE AMH head. This doesn’t help our cooperation at all. Moreover, let me dispel the illusions of possible successful bilateral relations without establishing normal contacts with all OSCE states. Our position remains clear: to observe the values, such as the respect for human rights, democracy and so forth. These principles are upheld not only by the OSCE but the whole of the European Union as well. In our common European house these principles are unshakable.”

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“Kirch Media” company confirmed its readiness to enable the Belarusian television broadcast the World Cup games starting from 1/8 finals, Interfax was told on Wednesday in the country’s government. Therefore, the Belarusian channel may start coverage from Japan and South Korea on June 15.

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The US Secretary of State Colin Powell presented on Wednesday in Washington a new report, filed by the Bush’s administration on “Men trafficking” in 89 countries of the globe, reports RIA “Novosti”. According to the report, every year around 700thsd people are transported abroad against their will. According to certain estimations, their number may reach 4mln. The report mentions 19 countries, where the governments don’t embark on any serious measures to prevent this illegal practice. Among them are such CIS member-states as Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

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President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will pay an official visit to Belarus on June 6-7, 2002, reports the Foreign Ministry’s press-service. In course of the visit he will meet Alexander Lukashenko in a “one to one” format. The countries’ delegations will also engage in negotiations. The sides will sign a bunch of documents, one of them being an accord on weaponry sales.

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Cabinet of Ministers’ ruling #707 “On the public opinion commission of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus” was signed by the Prime Minister Gennady Novitsky on May 31, 2002. Under the document’s provisions the purpose of the commission’s activities is “coordination of sociological polls, relating to the national referenda, presidential and parliamentary elections; improvement of their objectivity and accuracy; publishing their results.”

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In the near future Lithuania is expected to raise its entry cost visa for the Belarusian nationals. The Lithuanian embassy reports that the price of an ordinary visa will rise by $5, whereas the transit visa will become $3 more expensive.

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The new types of uniforms have been made for the Belarusian army. The new uniform has already been supplied to the enlisted personnel of the 1st company of the 11th mechanized brigade, deployed in Slonim (Grodno region). The uniform has a different camouflage picture and is made of a better quality material. It contains special pockets for individual use, radio, grenades and cartridges.

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