In the run-up to the presidential elections Belarusian youth organizations Zubr and the Young Front have announced campaigns “We Want a New One!” and “Fed Up With Him!” Graffiti, leaflets, stickers, newspapers and streamers are appearing all over the country, showing the mood of the Belarusian youth who desire to live in a free and democratic country. The Charter’97 press center discusses that with the leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich.

---

In Belarus each candidate for presidency will be granted two hours on air for presenting his election platform at the state radio and TV, Interfax was informed by the secretary of the Central Eletion Comission (CEC) Mikalay Lazovik.

---

“The significance of the European meetings of Alyaksandr Milinkevich cannot be underestimated. Meetings with the leadership of the EU and high representatives of most of the EU countries, demonstrate that Europe is ready to develop normal relations with a democratic Belarus. None of the leaders of the democratic opposition had meetings at such a high level as Milinkevich had. It means that he is viewed by Europe as a legitimate representative of democratic forces, and is viewed as a real alternative to the today’s Belarusian dictator. Europe makes understand that the period of Belarus’ self-isolation is dragged out. It seriously damages interests of the Belarusian nation, and Europe is ready to welcome democratic changes in Belarus not barely in word but truly in deed, by immediately opening all advantages of cooperation with the EU for the new president, including trade and economical relations,” told the international coordinator of the civil initiative “Charter’97”, former deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Andrei Sannikov, commenting on the meetings of the democratic candidate for presidency of Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich with the leaders of the United Europe.

---

A member of the initiative group of the leader of Belarusian opposition Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Pyotra Yavidovich, is charged with early campaigning for Alyaksandr Milinkevich and accused for violation of the electoral legislation.

---

On January 27 in Kobryn (Brest region) police major Anatol Kananchuk visited an activist of the youth movement Zubr Stanislau Kuchynski at his place. Zubr activist was absent, and policemen asked his parents about his job place and birth date. Then policeman asked about the structure of the Zubr organization. However, parents could say nothing.

---

When Angela Merkel became chancellor nearly three months ago, she promised Germany`s eastern neighbors that Berlin would not go over their heads on any decisions that affected their interests.

---

The opposition candidate in the Belarus presidential election next month has called on Europe and the US to help him unseat the country`s authoritarian government.

---

Policemen of Pershamajski district of Minsk brought up an action on charges relating the Article “hooliganism”. Suspects are activists of the Young Front Artur Finkevich and Alyaksei Yanusheuski. The activists are kept in a pre-trial detention center. They are suspected of making a graffiti “We Want a New One!” and “Fed Up With Him!” at the buildings. Activists have not been presented accusation yet.

---

Belarus` presidential election scheduled for March is receiving little television coverage from national and regional networks, says a report by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).

---

The US Department of State urged the Belarusian authorities to open up the political process "to those voices that have been stifled."

---

Aleksandr Milinkevich, a presidential contender backed by a group of allied opposition parties, met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Thursday to discuss the situation in Belarus in the run-up to the election coming next month.

---

Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov will visit Egypt and Sudan this week to discuss political and economic cooperation with the countries’ top officials, Andrei Popov, acting spokesman for the ministry, told reporters in Minsk on Thursday.

---

Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko has approved the Charter of the High Technology Park (HTP), giving the green light for the registration of the HTP as a legal entity, Aleksandr Martinkevich, deputy head of the Park’s administration, told reporters in Minsk on Thursday.

---