Irina Krasovskaya and David Kramer published a piece in Foreign Policy on the European Union’s recent overtures to Belarus.
The United States chargé d’affaires in Belarus Jonathan Moore recently gave an interview to Charter97. Below is the full text of the interview: - Mr. Moore, an alarming tendency has appeared recently: some European politicians openly flirt with the dictatorship in Belarus. Despite of the gross violations of human rights, new political prisoners in Belarusian prisons, crackdown on peaceful rallies, they speak about some “liberalization” in Belarus. What would the policy of the new US administration be, enticement of dictatorships or support and encouragement of democracy? - Thank you for your question, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you today. I would describe the situation in different terms. Over the past year we have seen a variety of developments in Belarus. Some developments have been positive, others have not been. To go back to last August, the release of the last political prisoners was a positive step. We were told that conditions would be much improved for the parliamentary elections. However, those of us who observed those elections and certainly OSCE report which was very comprehensive and professional, now that the election did not turned out as promised. There have been protests which have occurred without any interference by the police. There have been some events that were allowed to occur, such as the congress of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, and the Union of Poles; the distribution of Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya, and some steps to establish a broader dialogue with civil society. At the same time, and we will be talking about it in the interview, there are some cases that are of concern to us.
У час, калі ў Нью-Ёрку, дый па ўсёй Амэрыцы скарачаюцца бюджэты ды ашчаджаюць на пажарных і паліцэйскіх, сапраўдным маленькім цудам выглядае пастанова стварыць, апрацаваць і каталягізаваць збор беларускіх архіваў у Ньюёркскай публічнай бібліятэцы. Беларускія архівы ў амэрыканскіх установах, што праўда, рэч не ўнікальная. Параўнаўча нядаўна Ратгерскі ўнівэрсытэт прыняў на захаваньне архівы Беларускага кангрэсавага камітэту, асабістыя зборы а. Мікалая Лапіцкага, Івана Касяка й Янкі Запрудніка. Апрацоўвала калекцыі Лёля Касоўская‑Лапіцкая. Стэнфардзкі ўнівэрсытэт (Каліфорнія) у сваіх зборах мае дакумэнты ня толькі паваеннае эміграцыі (паперы Юрыя Сабалеўскага, Івана Любачкі), але й ранейшыя. Сярод іх найперш трэба назваць матэрыялы ARA — American Relief Administration — арганізацыі, якая на тэрыторыі былога СССР дапамагала ачуняць насельніцтву пасьля грамадзянскай вайны. На падставе гэтых збораў былі напісаныя навуковая праца Алесі Кіпель і публіцыстычная кніга Аляксандра Лукашука «Прыгоды ARA ў Беларусі».
Please join members of the Washingtonian chapter of BAZA at the AU’s International Bazaar, April 8, from 1-3 pm. AU’s cultural clubs and International students will display their cultures out on the quad (main campus of American University). Learn more about other cultures, their music, foods, artifacts and even buy a souvenir!
The 19-year-old Belarusian won the Sony Ericsson Open in Florida earlier this week. Victoria Azarenka claimed the biggest win of her career as she defeated five-time champion and world number one Serena Williams in the Miami final. Here is how Washington Post covered this victory:
Washington – According to Belarusian news agency Belta, the World Bank and Belarus have agreed on a $125 million draft loan for a new energy-effectiveness project.
Alexandra Goujon will give a talk “Does the Political Regime in Belarus Change” on Monday, April 27 at noon at Kennan Institute. Alexandra Goujon is an Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Bourgogne, Dijon, and Lecturer, Institute for Political Studies, Paris. Here is the event's introduction:
WASHINGTON – David Marples in his recent piece in Eurasia Daily Monitor analyzed how Belarusian auhorities view the opposition and concluded that
In 2008, Alexander Lukashenka’s “last dictatorship in Europe” ousted the U.S. Ambassador from Belarus and forced the U.S. Embassy in Minsk to be reduced to a skeletal staff. Restoration of a full-fledged U.S. Embassy in Belarus should be a priority.
The Center for Belarusian Studies at Southwestern College (Winfield, KS) invites undergraduate and graduate students to participate in its first International Summer School for Belarusian Studies from July 6 to August 7, 2009.
U.S.-Belarus Relations: Current Issues & Future Directions Dr. Andrei Fedarau Fulbright Scholar Tuesday, March 24th at 12pm, Room ICC 462 This talk will illuminate the current state of Belarus-US relations and consider possible scenarios for the future. The Republic of Belarus and the United States do not enjoy a positive diplomatic relationship. This is surprising, given the potential that existed in the early 1990s. The main reasons for the strained relations are the lack of democratic and market transformations in Belarus. Yet though many post-Soviet states can be described in this way, their relationship with US is not affected in this way. Dr. Fedarau was awarded the PhD in Physics. He worked at the Institute of Physics of Belarus' Academy of Sciences, then in the Supreme Council (parliament) of Belarus, as a head of International Relations Department. Since 1997, he has worked as an independent journalist and analyst of international relations and security.
An interesting overview of divergences within the European Union on the Belarusian issue appeared in an article published by Radio Liberty Free Europe.
Belarusian civil society groups around the world, including here in Washington, commemorate the Day of Solidarity every month on the 16th. This day is meant to remind about the disappearance in Minsk in 1999-2000 of Yury Zakharenka, Victar Hanchar, Anatoly Krasouski and Dzmitri Zavadski. In 2004, the Council of Europe prepared a special report on disappeared persons in Belarus. It is the most comprehensive independent study of this problem, which sheds light on what had really happened. Below is the report's summary and its full text: The report presents the results of the investigatory work carried out by the Rapporteur and the ad hoc sub-committee to clarify the fate of four well-known persons who disappeared in Minsk in 1999 and 2000. The conclusions which are drawn gravely impugn certain high representatives of the Government of Belarus. The draft resolution and recommendation call on the Council of Europe and its member and observer states to follow up on these findings, including by sanctions against the Belarusian authorities until they take the measures that must be taken against those responsible. Belarusian civil society groups around the world, including here in Washington, commemorate the Day of Solidarity every month on the 16th. This day is meant to remind about the disappearance in Minsk in 1999-2000 of Yury Zakharenka, Victar Hanchar, Anatoly Krasouski and Dzmitri Zavadski. In 2004, the Council of Europe prepared a special report on disappeared persons in Belarus. It is the most comprehensive independent study of this problem, which sheds light on what had really happened. Below is the report's summary and its full text: The report presents the results of the investigatory work carried out by the Rapporteur and the ad hoc sub-committee to clarify the fate of four well-known persons who disappeared in Minsk in 1999 and 2000. The conclusions which are drawn gravely impugn certain high representatives of the Government of Belarus. The draft resolution and recommendation call on the Council of Europe and its member and observer states to follow up on these findings, including by sanctions against the Belarusian authorities until they take the measures that must be taken against those responsible.