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-In not too long, we will invite expertise from different environments to a big workshop on Africa, Jonas Gahr Støre, right, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in the Christian Norwegian daily Vårt Land today. In the foreign affairs debate in Parliament last week, Gahr Støre spoke in favour of a ‘renewed’ policy towards Africa. (15-FEB-06)
 

The Russian-Chechen Information Agency is awarded one of the Fritt Ord´s and ZEIT-Stiftung Press Prizes 2006. This prize is aimed at Eastern European media and journalists who are dedicated to independent reporting and who dare to withstand self-censorship. But for its chief director, Stanislav Dmitriyevsky, this comes at a price. (13-FEB-05) 
 

Today, 14 February, Ales Bialiatski, right, founder of the independent, but banned human rights organisation Human Rights Centre VIASNA, will receive the prestigeous Andrej Sakharov Freedom Award from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Bialiatski will attend a seminar and also the monthly solidarity with Republic of Belarus picket in front of the Norwegian parliament while in Oslo. (13-FEB-06)
 

One of the main events, shaken the whole world this week, is the numerous protest actions of Muslims all over the world. The manifestations have been held against the publication of caricatures on the Prophet Mohammed in several press outlets of a number of European countries. The religious communities and Muslim believers of Republic of Azerbaijan also condemned the disrespect of the Prophet Mohammad and held a number of protest actions too. (11-FEB-2006)

Tomorrow, 14 February, Ales Bialiatski, right, founder of the independent, but banned human rights organisation Human Rights Centre VIASNA, will receive the prestigeous Andrej Sakharov Freedom Award from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Bialiatski will attend a seminar and also the monthly solidarity with Republic of Belarus picket in front of the Norwegian parliament while in Oslo. (13-FEB-06)
 

Last month, the news broke that the Norwegian Helsinki Committee had awarded Ales Bialiatski, right, of the banned Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna the Andrej Sakharov Award for 2006. On the eve of his arrival to Oslo to receive the prize, Bialiatski says: -This is a sad award because it relates to the situation in the Republic of Belarus. We would rather not have awards for our efforts for human rights. (13-FEB-06)
  

President Lukashenko continues to tighten his grip on the Belarusian society. His latest display of power concerns the liquidation of youth organisation RADA, using a new law that was implemented at the beginning of this year. According to Eivind Vad Petersson of the Norwegian Youth Council the reason for the liquidation is fear for civic unrest in face of the up-coming presidential elections of March 19. (12-FEB-06)
 

The Russian-Chechen Information Agency is awarded one of the Fritt Ord and ZEIT-Stiftung Press Prizes 2006. This prize is aimed at Eastern European media and journalists who are dedicated to independent reporting and who dare to withstand self-censorship. But for its chief director Stanislav Dmitriyevsky, being independent comes with a price. (13-FEB-05) 
 

Since 3 February the Board of the Association Initiative 33 and the members of the editorial staff of the magazine “Kontrateksty” have been collecting signatures under an appeal to the governing bodies for moderation and caution in making political changes and amendments to legal regulations. The appeal results from the concern caused by the policy performed by the authorities chosen during the fall parliamentary and presidential elections. (10-FEB-06)