Belarusian oil company doesn't know cost of Venezuelan oil

The price is yet to be calculated after the first shipment and processing.

The news about serious shipments of crude oil from South America to Belarus impressed and alarmed Belarusians. Why should we import oils from a far Venezuela if Russia has traditionally been the main supplier? And, why, as some experts reckon, would Venezuela give us oil almost free of charge? The European Radio for Belarus has tried to find out that.

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Litvina: Supreme Court has banned operation of independent journalists

The Supreme Court of Belarus has rejected a complaint from the Belarusian Association of Journalists against a warning from the Ministry of Justice. Now freelance journalists who are members of BAJ cannot be called the press.

The reason is the court has banned the journalistic association to write the word "press" on the association membership IDs. In the view of BAJ chairperson Zhana Litvina, freelance journalisst who are not employed as staff with editorial offices will not be able to work properly, because any official will not to a person who cannot present a press card. "The bottom-line is that the Supreme Court has confirmed a ban on the word "press". Talking more globally, this is a ban of the operation of independent journalists and independent media organizations. The reasoning of the court is that only a professional journalist can work in the professional journalism. It means that only the employed staff -- and it is even better a staff with the state-owned media, then it is fine!", she said.

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Natalia Radzina punched in face, Charter'97 computers confiscated

The police have searched the apartment of Charter'97 web site editor (PHOTO)

Security agents today searched the apartment of Natalia Radzina who edits the web site of the Charter'97 opposition group and confiscated 8 computers.

Natalia told ERB correspondent that the police agents were very aggressive as if they had planned to storm the premises and used force against the journalist.

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NATO: We will never attack Russia

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen talks about the Alliance's new strategy during a conference in Warsaw.

Good relations with Russia will become one of the key issues in a new strategy of NATO which General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen promised to present in November 2010.

A policy of dialogue and cooperation with Russia is the best security guarantee in Europe to all NATO member nations, Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed on March 12 at a conference in Warsaw.

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Are women discriminated in Belarus?

One in two Belarusians reckons there is no gender equality in this country.

One in four says that a woman should sit at home and take care of children. These are the results of a polll conducted by the international research group Ipsos in 23 countries ahead of the International Women's Day. Paradoxically, this view was supported by young people aged 15-34, not by the older more conservative generation.

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Rammstein gig sets Minsk 'on fire' (video)

11,000 fans have sung Du Hast in unison at Minsk Arena. The Germans have destroyed their punctuality myth as the show was delayed for one hour. The concert report and fireworks in a video footage from the European Radio for Belarus.

Rammstein appeared on the stage in the light rays through the holes in the wall (see video)

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Belarus special services to use key words for eavesdropping

The chairman of the Constitutional Court reckons it does not confront with the country's Constitution.

The Operative Analytical Center at the Presidential Administration of Belarus looks like yet another secret service after the president's decree has allowed this center to have complete on-line access the customer databases of the Belarusian mobile communication operators. Earlier, the same center was allowed by the president to regulate the internet.

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Belarus, Latvia can abolish visas for trans-border residents this year

The text of the agreement is almost ready, while Riga is waiting for an answer from Minsk.

Belarus and Latvia can soon abolish visas for the residents of trans-border areas. The similar deal was signed by Belarus and Poland on February 12.

The text of the agreement on the simplified border-crossing procedures between Belarus and Latvia is almost read, while Latvia is expecting an answer from Belarus, Latvian foreign ministry spokesman Rets Plesums told Euroradio. "In December 2009 Latvia sent a letter to the Belarusian side with the editorial assessment of the agreement. We have not received an answer from Belarus yet, so we are waiting for an answer", he said.

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Lithuanian experts: Belarusian NPP may result in extinction of the whole natio

Vilnius is sure that 85% of the Lithuanian territory will be contaminated as a result of an accident at Atsravets NPP. Ecologists hope for an international reaction and are sending appeals to structures of the European Union, the Aarhus Committee and the Espoo committee

Civil hearings about Astarvets NPP that took place in Vilnius on March 2 ended with a scandal. Participants of the meeting claimed that the event was organized just for show. They say that the report on the NPP’s influence suggested by the delegation from Minsk was criticized due to numerous mismatches and contradictions.

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You can drink beer from bags in Lithuania and walk with an open bottle in Poland

Fines for drinking beer in public places are smaller in our neighbouring countries if compared to Belarus

The ban on drinking alcoholic beverages in the street does not surprise anyone in Poland anymore. Amateurs of drinking in the open air or in public transport appear from time to time, however, they get fined for about 30 dollars for it. ERB has found it out in the Capital commandant's office of Poland.

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