Minsk: Enterprises Are Forced to Subscribe to State Newspapers

According to Salidarnasts newspaper

The editorial office of Salidarnasts has received a copy of the letter that was sent to the state enterprises that are situated in Kastrychnitski borough of Minsk. Here’s the text:

‘The subscription campaign for the first half of 2007 has already started. The main priority for the next five years is further development of the effective constitutional state which works for the good of the people. The main task in the activity of state newspapers is the most complete and reliable information of the population about the economical, political, social and cultural development of our country and the most important world’s events. For achievement of this aim it is necessary to form an informational-methodical center at each enterprise where beside the main laws and normative acts of the Republic of Belarus must have the leading informational editions such as Sovetskaya Belorussiya, Zviazda, Narodnaia hazeta, Znamya yunosti, Vecherniy Minsk, Minskiy kurier, Respublika, the magazines Planeta and Ekonomika Belarusi. The availability of these editions will let for most complete orientation in the priorities for the development of the Republic of Belarus and timely information of the workers of Your enterprise about the life of the Republic, city or borough.

We turn Your attention to the necessity of departmental subscription to the enumerated editions in each structural subdivision of Your enterprise.

Along with the departmental subscription we propose that You organize work for engaging the workers of Your enterprise in individual subscription…’

The letter is signed by the chair of Minsk Kastrychnitski borough executive committee M.Tsyhan.

Salidarity calculated that the departmental subscription to all enumerated media for six months will cost 543 736 rubles (about $250). In the case an enterprise has some structural subdivisions, it can be multiplied by their number.