Milinkevich at Lisbon Summit: «Europe’s position towards Belarus is firm»

“For Freedom” movement leader Aliaksandar Milinkevich took part in the summit of the European Peoples Party (EPP) held in the Portuguese capital. The former candidate for the presidential post had a range of private meetings with well-known politicians: European Parliament head Hans-Georg Poettering, PACE President Rene van der Linden, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Tymoshenko bloc leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

The EPP unites right and right-center parties that are influential in the European countries. In particular, Hans-Georg Poettering from Germany is the head of the European Parliament where the EPP fraction is the biggest one, Rene van der Linden from the Netherlands is at the helm of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Aliaksandar Milinkevich who received a personal invitation to join the summit in Lisbon says the session of October 18 lasted the whole day and was overflowed with emotions:

“First of all, the agenda comprised such issues as the European Constitution, relations with Russia, Turkish question. The guests described situations in their countries: Yuschenko and Tymoshenko talked about Ukraine, me - about Belarus, Saakashvili - about Georgia. Other participants were listening with full attention and then asked questions, mostly on energy security, as I said Belarus must take part in such processes. It is essential that we don’t stay away. Another question: are there positive tendencies in the actions of the authorities? Europe is still offering and waiting for changes,” Milinkevich told Radio Svaboda.

Mr. Milinkevich also said he was encouraged by the fact that the Europeans have one firm position towards Belarus:

“Earlier it looked like the Council of Europe keeps to a milder position, while the position of the European Union with its 12 propositions is more rigid. And today I’ve seen that all institutions have one firm position and would like to cooperate with Belarus. And of course, now everything depends solely on Belarus.”

Former candidate for the presidential post had a range of private meetings with well-known politicians: Poettering, van der Linden, Saakashvili, Yulia Tymoshenko.

The leader of the movement “For Freedom” commented on his meeting with Tymoshenko:

“Firstly, I congratulated her on the brilliant election campaign. I told her she had given faith in changes to her country. And I wished her all the success.

I believe her chances of becoming the Prime Minister are great. Certainly, we’re interested in a favourable situation in Ukraine, and their revolution must bring a positive outcome. And I think this is the most important factor. The same concerns Georgia.

Today in the morning Aliaksandar Milinkevich is to have several meetings. Then he will get back to Belarus.