Regional Europe Belarus
Europe and Eurasia
The United States monitored and denounced the Government's hostile actions against those promoting academic freedom. Officials from the U.S. Government facilitated contact between Belarusian diaspora groups in the United States and the rector of a Belarusian language lyceum that was closed by the Government; other U.S. officials and European Governments sought support for the school. In early 2004, the Ambassador joined an 11-country diplomatic protest over the Minister of Education's efforts to close the European Humanities University (EHU). The United States later protested bilaterally and multilaterally the Governments closure of EHU and supported scholarships to help former EHU students study in the United States, Europe and at other universities in Belarus. The United States also protested in several forums the Governments closure of two academic think tanks and pressure against independent public opinion and polling organizations. ... [Read More]
Belarus
On August 19, the MOJ issued a warning to the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, another prominent human rights NGO, for the absence of quotation marks in its letterhead and seal. The Belarusian Helsinki Committee would be closed after one more warning. On June 17, the Gomel Regional Court closed the Gomel-based NGO resource center, Civic Initiatives, claiming that the organization used foreign aid for illegal purposes. On July 9, the Brest Regional Court closed the Baranovichi-based NGO resource center Varuta, claiming that Varuta abbreviated its name in internal documents and referred to itself as an organization, rather than an association as stated in its registration. On July 31, the Vitebsk Regional Court closed the Vitebsk-based NGO resource center, the Center of Youth Initiatives Kontur, for violations in tax regulations and for failing to reside at the registered address. On September 10, the Independent Society for Legal Studies received its third warning for contrib ... [Read More]
Europe and Eurasia - US Department of State
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U.S. Department of State Websites of U.S. Embassies and Consulates
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U.S. Embassy websites - US Dept of State
AFRICA• Africa Regional Services - Paris ... [Read More]
Belarus (10/04)
Following the recognition of Belarus as an independent state in December 1991 by the European Community, EU-Belarus relations initially experienced a steady progression. The signature of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 1995 signaled a commitment to political, economic, and trade cooperation. Significant assistance was provided to Belarus within the framework of the TACIS technical assistance program and also through various aid programs and loans. However, progress in EU-Belarus relations stalled in 1996 after serious setbacks to the development of democracy and the Drozdy conflict. The EU did not recognize the 1996 constitution, which replaced the 1994 constitution. The EU Council of Ministers decided against Belarus in 1997: The PCA was not concluded, nor was its trade-related part; Belarusian membership in the Council of Europe was not supported; bilateral relations at the ministerial level were suspended; and EU technical assistance programs were frozen. In 2004, ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Cyprus is a destination country for women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Traffickers who forced women into prostitution continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas. There was increasing evidence of Chinese women being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cyprus made some progress in its anti-trafficking efforts over the past year. The new police anti-trafficking unit produced successful results and showed vigilance in combating the problem. Government recognition of the problem improve ... [Read More]
2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Belarus
The IOM, UNDP, and La Strada/YWCA conducted national awareness campaigns and provided training to NGOs in regional towns. La Strada/YWCA and IOM continued to open and operate hotlines throughout the country. These hotlines provided opportunities for women to seek information about agencies, laws, and risks before accepting employment or marriage offers from overseas. In the summer, the NGOs managed to switch the hotlines to free "green line" numbers and create new billboards and brochures informing women to call the hotlines before making decisions to work or live abroad. The Government did not conduct independent awareness campaigns, but did increase trafficking coverage in state controlled news. ... [Read More]
Regional English Language Officers Worldwide -- Office of English Language Programs
E-mail: relojkt1@cbn.net.id Europe and Eurasia (EUR) Central/Eastern Europe (Budapest) ... In addition to Washington-based RELOs, sixteen officers are assigned overseas: Africa (AF) Dakar (Senegal) – Francophone West Africa Pretoria (S. Africa) – Southern Africa, Madagascar East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Bangkok (Thailand) – East Asia Jakarta (Indonesia) – Southeast Asia Europe and Eurasia (EUR) Ankara (Turkey) Budapest (Hungary) – Central/Eastern Europe Kiev (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) Moscow (Russia) Tashkent (Uzbekistan) – Central Asia Near East (NEA) ... [Read More]
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