BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

31/07/2008

Belarusian Interior Minister Says Situation Calm Ahead of Campaign

Text of report by Belarusian privately-owned news agency Belapan

Minsk, 31 July: Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumaw has predicted no complications in the situation in Belarus during the election campaign. He said this before the Interior Ministry board session on 31 July. "I do not think that anyone will complicate the situation during the election campaign," he said.

The minister is "positive that the date of some unauthorized [opposition] event connected with the fact that the election was not fair enough will appear soon". "Some group will not wait for the polling day and announce the date now. But I do not think that this is going to affect the situation," Navumaw said.

"My forecast is that the election campaign will be quite peaceful and that all Belarusian citizens understand that the election is quite a responsible event and there is no use to put pressure using some rallies," Navumaw said.

Originally published by Belapan news agency, Minsk, in Russian 1220 31 Jul 08.

Source:

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2458805&title=Belarusian_Interior.html

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