BELARUSIAN PREMIER ASSURES IMF OF ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION...

Premier Henadz Navitski met on 6 November with an IMF mission that is currently in Belarus to monitor the results of an economic program implemented by the government in April-September. Navitski assured the mission that his government is working to further liberalize monetary controls, tighten tax policy, curb inflation, speed up price liberalization, get rid of cross-subsidies, step up privatization, adopt universally recognized principles for tariff control, and remove any obstacles to free trade in anticipation of entry to the World Trade Organization. The premier also underscored his cabinet's intention to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises. Meanwhile, IMF European II Department Director John Odling-Smee said in Minsk the same day that the Belarusian government has implemented the six-month program only in part. According to Odling-Smee, it is too early to talk about the possibility of the IMF's support for Belarus. Odling-Smee noted that a major cause of the Belarusian government's failure to observe some parameters stipulated by the program is its decision to increase the average monthly pay to the equivalent of $100. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in Hrodna on 6 November that there are some 100,000 illegal immigrants in Belarus, Belarusian Television reported. According to him, Hrodna Oblast has become a "storeroom" for illegal immigrants heading for Western Europe. He threatened that the West will have problems unless it pays Belarus money for dealing with illegal immigration.