BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/11/2008

Two Belarus opposition papers to print at home

Editor of Narodnaya Volya, follows pledges by the EU to intensify dialogue with Belarus if it moves to promote democratic values, including press freedom.

Two opposition newspapers in Belarus, forced for several years to publish abroad, are to resume printing in the ex-Soviet state, an editor said on Friday.

The announcement by Iosif Seredich, editor of Narodnaya Volya, follows pledges by the European Union to intensify dialogue with Belarus if it moves to promote democratic values, including press freedom.

Also due to resume publication in Belarus is the Belorusskaya Niva newspaper.

"We held talks with (state publisher) Belsoyuzpechat, with a printing house and with the Belarussian post office and everyone was delighted to agree to our request," Seredich told Reuters.

"Previous requests were simply rejected out of hand. Today, I was met with open arms."

There was no government comment on the announcement.

Government restrictions on the use of state printing plants in 2004-2005 forced many opposition papers to print outside Belarus -- some over the border in Russia, others in Lithuania.

The two papers concerned are now printed in Russia's western town of Smolensk.

President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has long been accused of flouting fundamental rights, but has been calling for improved relations with the West for a year since quarrelling with Russia over energy prices.

The EU lifted an entry ban on Lukashenko after Belarussian courts released the last detainees deemed political prisoners in the West. Western observers noted improvements in a September parliamentary election, though they said it still fell short of acceptable standards.

Seredich said he had met a senior official from Lukashenko's administration on Thursday and he had recommended that the editor formally seek permission to publish from the various state bodies.

"Narodnaya Volya may be put on sale from next week and from December 1 we hope to publish inside Belarus," he said. "I can only assume that the Belarussian authorities have decided to press on with moves towards the European Union."

He said he believed other newspapers would also be allowed to resume publication, including those in Belarus's regions.

Reuters

Source:

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=31880

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