E-bulletin of IISEPS Center for Documentation, N 4, 2005 (only Russian)
Content:
Introduction
Theme of the month:
Progress in Russia-Belarus Relations: Necessity to Solve Routine Problems or Something Greater?
Person of the month:
Condoleezza Rice: Far-Sighted Politician or Mouthpiece of “US Anti-National Regime”?
Document of the month:
President’s Annual Statement: “Report to People” or “Instructions to Elite”?
Organization of the month:
IISEPS Closure: “Extermination of Civic Society” or Rule of Law?
From IISEPS Desktop:
We Want Changes
Demonstrative Unanimity
Elite Is Ready to Vote for Alternative Candidates
Introduction:
Dear readers!
We offer to your attention the next issue of “Infofocus” bulletin. In our opinion, meetings of Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Sochi have become the “Topic of Month”. It should be noted that last time the two presidents met over six months ago while the Supreme State Council didn’t have sittings from October of 2003. Many analysts and experts agree that the idea of Russia-Belarus Union State was frozen at the top level. What do several consecutive meetings of the presidents mean? Are we to expect progress in Union State’s formation, or this is just a formality which the heads should have followed? Have the Kremlin staked on A. Lukashenko once and forever? You will find the opinions of political scientist A. Suzdaltsev and analyst P. Akulov on this issue.
Condoleezza Rice, US State Secretary, has been this time nominated the “Person of Month”. To remind, on April 19 she met with V. Putin and Russia’s Foreign Minister S. Lavrov. On her way to Moscow, C. Rice gave an interview in which she made several statements on the political situation in Belarus. Next day she went to Vilnius for a meeting with foreign ministers of NATO member states and was offered to see representatives of the Belarusian opposition. During the talk, Ms. Rice aired key points that she thinks can change the situation in Belarus. What provoked such close attention to Belarus? In what way are we to interpret such statements? Do C. Rice’s words indicate readiness of the USA to break A. Lukashenko’s regime? We asked these questions to A. Dobrovolsky, Deputy Chairman of the United Civil Party, who participated in the Vilnius meeting, and S. Kostyan, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for International Affairs and CIS.
The column “Document of Month” has been this time given to the Annual Address of Belarus President A. Lukashenko to the National Assembly and the Belarusian People. At first sight, the speech of the head of state didn’t reveal anything new and looked more like reiteration of previously publicized statements. However, it evoked genuine interest with some representatives of public organizations. Did this address differ from all the previous? What new things did the head of state say? Can this kind of statements influence the development of country’s socio-political and economic life? We offer you the standpoints of L. Zaiko, Director of Strategy Analytical Center, and A. Krasutsky, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Commission for International Affairs and CIS.
In the column “Organization of Month”, we will this time talk about our institute. Closure of the IISEPS caused wide response both inside the country and abroad. This is why we decided to tell how this happened and thus reveal attitude of the authorities to NGO’s and those civic society bodies which the state cannot control. Justice Ministry representative A. Kharitonov and lawyer L. Philimonikhina said all the authorities should like to say in this regards. In addition, we present the opinions of O. Slizhevsky, Head of Justice Ministry’s Public Organizations Department, which was published at the national law portal in the Internet, and S. Kalyakin, Chairman of the Party of Communists Belarusian.
In conclusion, “IISEPS Desktop” offers to your attention the most important findings of the opinion poll among public opinion leaders and experts conducted by the Institute in March and April.
We hope that you will find these materials helpful and interesting. All comments and requests are as usual welcome!
IISEPS executive board