BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/12/2006

Belarusian Legislature Passes Bill On Extremism And On 2007 Budget

The Council of the Republic, Belarus's upper house of parliament, on December 20 passed a bill on preventing and combating extremism, Belapan reported. The bill defines extremism as steps by political parties, public, religious, and other organizations as well as Belarusian and foreign citizens to plan, prepare, and commit acts aimed at overthrowing the constitutional system, the establishment of illegal armed groups, and conducting terrorist activities. Stsyapan Sukharenka, chairman of the Committee for State Security (KGB), described the bill during the session as "extremely necessary" ahead of what he called "events prepared" by the opposition. In particular, Sukharenka warned, opposition forces are planning to carry out civil-disobedience campaigns aimed at changing the existing constitutional order during local elections in January. The bill on extremism was already passed by the lower house in October and rejected by the upper house several days later. The government subsequently presented the rejected bill without any revisions to the legislature, which passed it without reservations this time. JM

Also on December 20, the Council of the Republic adopted a 2007 budget bill, Belapan reported. The bill predicts next year's consolidated budget revenues to be 40.4 trillion rubles ($18.8 billion) and spending at 41.8 trillion rubles, with a deficit equal to 1.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). According to the budget estimates, GDP will grow by 9 percent and the annual inflation rate will total 7 percent in 2007. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/12/3-cee/cee-211206.asp