Belarus Guide
Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week, 2002
America's commitment to individual freedom and democracy provides the foundation for our society. As a Nation, we cherish the values of free speech, equal justice, and religious tolerance, and we steadfastly oppose the forces of cruelty, injustice, and tyranny. Since the founding of our country, the Bill of Rights has served to guide our people and our Government to ensure basic human rights and liberties. The United States is a country where all citizens have the opportunity to voice their opinions, practice their faith, and enjoy the blessings of freedom. ... [Read More]
U.S. Policy and the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe
In 2002, the U.S. continued to focus the work of the Organization on combating terrorism in the OSCE region. For example, the U.S. encouraged the Organization and participating States to implement commitments undertaken in the 2001 Bucharest Action Plan on Combating Terrorism and produced a program aimed specifically at helping the Central Asians with respect to stopping terrorist financing. By year's end, a majority of members had signed the UN conventions against terrorism and all but 4 of the States had completed the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) self-assessments on what they have done and need to do to stop terrorist financing. The U.S. also took the lead in drafting a Charter on Terrorism, adopted at the Porto Ministerial in December, which will serve as a continual guide to the OSCE in its counterterrorism efforts. ... [Read More]
"For the Record" Alumni Newsletter – Office of Academic Exchange Programs, European Programs Branch
The alumni fellows left Moscow with a year's worth of activities to carry out, materials to guide them in this task, and a strong network of colleagues with whom to consult over the next year. They have already carried out their first assignment--re-entry workshops for FSA Undergraduates who returned home this summer. ... [Read More]
For the Record Newsletter – European Programs Branch
The second phase of the workshop focused on building professional skills, networking, job searching, and NGO building, among other topics. Discussions took place in small groups and many of these groups were led or facilitated by Muskie alumni from previous years, recipients of the Muskie Alumni Leadership Award, who had been invited to Washington specifically to guide and mentor their new alumni colleagues. Meetings were also arranged with organizations, businesses, and NGOs that operate in Eurasia. The workshop ended formally with a graduation lunch where two outstanding Muskie alumni from the class of 2003 addressed their peers. A farewell reception took place that evening in the Ronald Reagan building. ... [Read More]
International Adoption Belarus
U.S. Department of State [Read More]
2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Belarus
The law specifies that the Government may close down a publication after two warnings about violations of various restrictive laws, and the authorities continued to pressure independent newspapers through the use of these warnings. The Government issued 160 warnings against 81 independent newspapers during the year. Regulatory provisions also grant the authorities power to ban and censor critical reporting; for example, the State Committee on the Press was given authority to suspend the publication of periodicals or newspapers for 3 months without a court ruling. The law also prohibits the media from disseminating information on behalf of unregistered political parties, trade unions, and NGOs. During the parliamentary election campaign, the Ministry of Information ordered the suspension or closure of 11 independent newspapers, citing publication and distribution violations. In one of these cases, a paper was accused of illegally publishing two newspapers after the Ministry determined t ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Shipping domestic family pets is the owners responsibility. Actual shipping costs in conjunction with post assignment transfers (but not related costs) can be reimbursed within certain limits. (Pet owners are advised to reference STATE 072825, traveling with pets overseas and to check the most current information from FSIs Overseas Briefing Center for clarification of the reimbursement policy as well as other useful shipping guidelines.) ... www.inyourpocket.com (Minsk In Your Pocket Survival Guide) ... [Read More]
Office of Academic Exchange Programs: European Programs Branch – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – U.S. Department of State
- Discussion: World Press Freedom Day: Panel Discussion by Authors of "Freedom of Expression Guide", May 3rd (Tbilisi) ... [Read More]
Introduction
On September 17, 2002, President Bush presented a new National Security Strategy for the United States based on the principle that promoting political and economic freedom and respect for human dignity will build a safer and better world. To guide and focus the national effort that had grown out of the war on terrorism, the strategy outlined a series of fundamental tasks which, among others, required our Government to champion aspirations for human rights and build democracy. In his second inaugural address on January 20, 2005, President Bush elaborated on that principle: "The survival of liberty in our land depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world." ... [Read More]
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