BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/05/2006

Estonian government to pay for study of Byelorussian oppositionist students

On May 25, the Estonian government decided to grant 601,000 kroons (about $46,000) from its reserve fund to pay state scholarships to former Byelorussian students expelled from universities in their homeland by political reason. A spokesperson for the government is quoted by BNS as saying that thanks to these scholarships "up to ten persons will be able to continue studying in Estonia." The scholarship will cover expenditures for study, dwelling, trips to Belarus and back twice a year, medical insurance, and application for stay permit. Persons interested in receiving scholarship are expected to send their applications to the Estonian consulate in Minsk; from there the papers will be sent to Tallinn. A special commission will choose candidates.

Estonian Finance Ministry basically supports granting money from the governmental reserve fund. At the same time, the ministry proposes to take final decision in August, when an exact sum, which is necessary for study of former Byelorussian students in Estonia, will be known.

It is worth reminding that the Estonian government decided to grant scholarships to Byelorussian students, expelled by political reasons, in the middle of April.

Source:

http://www.regnum.ru/english/polit/646108.html