Can Poland bring Democracy to eastern neighbour Belarus?
10.3.2006 - Michal Zajac

Just over two weeks before presidential elections in Belarus, the life of the opposition there is becoming ever more difficult. One of Alexander Lukashenko's rivals was beaten up by security forces and detained for several hours. Following its active involvement in the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, Poland is now attentively watching developments in another eastern neighbour.

Poland has been openly recognizing the need for democratic changes in Belarus. Earlier this year opposition candidate Alexander Milinkevic was officially invited to Poland where he had a chance to address the Polish parliament. And Radio Racja, based in north-eastern Poland, has just re-launched its broadcasts to Belarus. Is there anything else that Poland can do to help its eastern neighbour to get on the track of democracy? independent journalist Andrzej Krajewski:

"What we are witnessing in Belarus is not what we had in Ukraine lat year because in Ukraine not the whole media were backing the official candidate of the authorities. Here there is no independent media at all. Belarusians are not aware that there are other candidates. The effort should be to make Belarusians know they really have a choice.

Poland's relations with Belarus deteriorated significantly last summer when the authorities in Minsk refused to acknowledge the new leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus. Interrogations and detentions followed, the expulsions of both countries' diplomats took place. Anti-Polish campaigns conducted by the Belarusian media and regime continue.

Warsaw says that Minsk's recent moves are a sign of weakness. Polish diplomat expelled from Belarus last year Marek Bucko:

"The fact that there have been cases of firing at demonstrators and brutality not only towards opposition candidate [Alexander] Kasulin, but members of his electoral committee too, means that the authorities in Minsk are weak."

Poland seems to have brought a new impetus to the EU's involvement with developments in Belarus. Bogdan Klich, a Polish MEP who is a member of the commission for relations with Belarus, is also among the European Parliament's representatives planning to serve as observers at the time of the presidential elections in Belarus on March 19:

"Our engagement in the framework of the EU is visible. Without the Polish support on the forum of the EP, there wouldn't be five important, well-perceived resolutions supporting the Belarusian opposition forces. The European parliament created its delegation composed of seven people. I am one of them, and we will try to reach the territory of Belarus. It is not clear yet whether at all we will be allowed to get into the country."

Sources close to president Kaczynski and the government unofficially imply that Poland may not recognize the Belarusian authorities, should Alexander Lukashenko win, having used unfair methods to discredit and crush the opposition.

Slovakia welcomes first ever visit of a serving British Prime Minister
10.3.2006 - Katarina Richterova, Pete Miller

Late Thursday evening Tony Blair came for the first-ever visit of a serving British prime minister to Slovakia. Prior to the visit there was a great deal of speculation about the purpose of his trip.

To answer curious reporters, Mr Blair said:

"One of the reasons why I am here is to stress the progress you made, because I think the reform programme that you are carrying here is a reform programme that is carrying an echo with the things we are trying to do in our country."

As he sat alongside the Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda many wondered whether Blair's visit could be a way of giving support to Dzurinda in the run-up to early elections to be held in mid June. Pete Miller posed this question to the British ambassador to Slovakia Judith McGregor:

"These visits are not planned on such short notice as that and of course the election was going to be held to its full term at September, so no, it has nothing to do with the election as such."

Reacting to allegations that he was campaigning for Dzurinda, Blair answered

"There is one rule that I have, which is that it is for the people in a country to determine their government. It's not for me to say what should happen in an election that is for the people here. This is somebody I admire and respect."

... praising Prime Minister Dzurinda. Praise for Blair also came from the Slovak side. As the Slovak prime minister stated:

"I would like to highly praise the leadership of Mr. Blair, not only in the UK but in Europe as such. Mr. Blair firmly stands on the side of truth in the fight against international terrorism."

We should add that, like the UK, Slovakia was one of the allies that supported US-led forces in the occupation of Iraq. And the presence of troops in Iraq was one of the topics the British prime minister discussed with Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic.

"I would be for a meeting of coalitions, that are present in Iraq and drawing up a concrete proposal of how and when to leave Iraq."

The President also pointed out to Blair that although the UK is the sixth biggest investor in Slovakia, there is still room for more mutual investment. As Blair said, the relationship between Slovakia and the UK has taken on a more practical form.

"We have many Slovaks who work in the UK today, and are most welcomed and we have also a couple of thousands of Slovak students in the UK today. The relationship between our two countries has really become very much stronger in the past few years. I think that that's a good omen for those countries that are new members of Europe working closely with countries that have been in the European Union for longer. But I think that the enlarged European Union, with the membership of countries like Slovakia, has really brought energy and vitality into the European Union that I for one have found extremely worthwhile."

Appearing alongside the Slovak Prime Minister on crutches, Blair wound up his visit by meeting students from the Comenius University in Bratislava, where he answered questions on international issues.

During his stay in Slovakia Tony Blair only met representatives of the government. It was not until a day later, at a stop-off in the Czech capital Prague, that he also met Robert Fico, leader of Slovakia's strongest opposition party. This was during a meeting of socialist and social democrat party leaders from across Europe.

PMs Paroubek, Blair meet in Prague ahead of Friday's socialist leaders meeting
10.3.2006 - Pavla Horáková

The leaders of European socialist parties met in Prague on Friday for a conference hosted by the Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek to discuss, among other issues, the EU's Spring Summit and a stronger European Energy policy. Before the event, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek held separate meetings with some of the participants, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

After their meeting at the Prime Minister's residence in Prague, the two prime ministers held a joint news conference. Pavla Horakova has just returned from it and joins me in the studio.

Well, Chris, the brief meeting focused mainly on EU issues, as Prime Minister Paroubek told reporters, adding that he had had an opportunity to cooperate closely with Tony Blair in recent months on a number of EU matters. Mr Blair responded to that saying the relationship between Britain and the Czech Republic is good and strong. This is what Mr Blair had to say:

"We have worked closely together in Europe. We are strong partners there but we are also strong partners in many aspects of NATO and foreign policy as well. I would like to say what a good, strong and reliable partner we have found this country and pay tribute to the leadership of the prime minister over this last period of time in which there have been difficult decisions to take."

It's only three months before the upcoming general election. Do you think this meeting will provide increased support for the Social Democrats?

Well, that's obviously hard to predict but it is definitely a big success for Prime Minister Paroubek and his Social Democrats to have Tony Blair in Prague so close to the elections. When asked about the similarities between the goals of their respective parties, Mr Blair had this to say:

"We both believe in strong economies combined with high levels of social justice. We both believe in a constructive and good relationship in the Transatlantic Alliance and we are strong partners and share the same values ideas in the European Union. So I think the links between the two parties are clear."

I believe Tony Blair has brought a special gift for Prime Minister Paroubek. Is that correct?

Yes, indeed, Chris. It is a London double-decker bus. The Social Democrats have used buses in their previous campaigns to travel around the country and meet their voters. And the Czech Social Democrats are hoping it will bring them luck this year.

Slovenia's Maribor to host prestigious European Orchestral Academy
10.3.2006 - Michael Manske, Ksenija Samardzija-Matul

Slovenia's second largest city, Maribor, scored a recent coup by getting the right to host the European Orchestral Academy from September 2007 onwards. The academy offers post-graduate studies to 86 graduates from auditions in ten European cities. The students will have studied at Europe's premier musical conservatories, and at the academy in Maribor, will make up their own symphonic orchestra.

But why Maribor? The general manager of the academy explained that the city had excellent plans, a good location and a show of readiness by all three partners.

Brigita Pavlic heads the concert agency Narodni Dom, which is one of the partners:

"Maribor was selected as the host city because of its geographic position, first of all, in the heart of Europe. But of course because the project's three partners: the municipality, the university of Maribor, and the cultural center Narodni Dom, are offering all the academy needs: the concert hall, the offices, the extra rehearsal room and lecture rooms, accommodation of course: in the first stage, student housing of the university, and in the second stage the Zicki Dvor (Zicki Manor). We are willing to integrate the concerts of the academy in our concert series and we will of course keep the general support in implementing the projects into the existing cultural life."

The project will be financed by the three partners, with additional income coming from donations and the EU.

It is a big boost for the city, as Pavlic explains:

"There will be of course economic benefits for Slovenia and the city of Maribor, like a new dimension of international prestige, year-round tourism, the members of the orchestral academy will spend their weekly stipend in Maribor, employment in the city for members of the staff, and no less important is community engagement. And this means encouraging youngsters and adults to classical music and the concert going experience, lasting and meaningful relationships between the orchestra and the community, to develop classical training and build on the success of the local orchestra and so on. So there are really a lot of economic and other benefits."

Students at the academy will take courses in such subjects as orchestral performance and music management. They will perform on their own, as well as take part in local festivals, such as Slovenia's largest open-air festival: the Lent Festival.

An English organ in north-east Hungary
10.3.2006 - Sandor Laczko

The organ of the St. Alkmund Church in Shrewsbury, England has been purchased by a Hungarian student of the Music Academy of Budapest. The organ was taken apart and sent to Hungary by ship and road transport. It is currently resting in the garage of the student, Balázs Szabó, who plans to set it up in his native city of Miskolc in north-eastern Hungary.

"I am very interested in organ music, European organ music, and in my native town Miskolc there are not that many instruments and we don't have any good ones to play French, German, or English organ music on. I had a big collection of old keyboard instruments and put the idea of turning it into a museum to the City Council. I also had a project to turn an instrument into a big concert organ. So, I had to purchase parts in England and in Germany to make a big colourful organ."

And how did you find this particular one?

"This one was advertised on the internet. There was a lot of interest from Germany, Spain and other countries but I won the bidding war."

Is this a special organ?

"Yes it is a very special organ. It's a typical English organ. We don't know anything about English organs here in Hungary. In England, the sound is very important. Intonation comes first for organ builders. After the quality of the sound, they concentrate on the technical side of the organ. This one is with a very fine sound quality from the late 19th century."

In what stage is it now? I understand it has been taken apart in Shrewsbury, in the west Midlands in England and it is being transported to Hungary.

"It is now in a storage room in my garage. We are now trying to find a good place for it. I am in discussion with the City Council to have the organ in a concert hall."

You mentioned a museum...how far have you got with the realisation of this plan?

"We're at the same stage. We are looking for a suitable place. All the instruments are in my house and inside a local church right now. There are many of them and also many possibilities but there is no place for them yet."

What additional work has to be done and what parts have to be added so that you can play and install the organ in Miskolc?

"I think the 22 stops that this organ had were not enough to play European organ music because the pedal lacked life. There was a lack of colour and it was impossible to make polyphonic music on it. So we added many stops to the pedal (special eight foot stops or four foot flutes) in order to be able to play music like Bach, for example."