Lech Walesa hosts Dalai Lama and Belarusians (Photo)

Conference Solidarity for the Future dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the day Lech Walesa was awarded with Nobel Peace Prize takes place in Gdansk. The ceremony was opened on December 5 by Nobel winners, among them spiritual leader of Tibet Dalai Lama and Lech Walesa.

The conference Solidarity for the Future was attended by freedom fights from around the world, journalists, students, human rights activists, and politicians. Among the invited Belarusians are Yauhen Afnahel, leader of the civil initiative “Jeans for Freedom”; Paval Yukhnevich, activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus”; spokesman of the “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Atroshchankau; leader of “the Youth of the BPF” Franak Vyachorka; leaders of “Young Belarus” Artur Finkevich, Timafei Dranchuk, Zmitser Kaspyarovich; students of Kastus Kalinouski education programme, studying in Poland.

On December 5, after an official opening ceremony, “European Belarus” activists Yauhen Afnahel, Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, and Yukhnevich met with Dalai Lama.

“We told about the situation with human rights in Belarus, about oncoming trial over “European Belarus” activist Alyaksandr Barazenka. The Tibetan spiritual leader expressed concern about the situation in our country. We were greatly impressed with the meeting. When he appeared on the scene, the huge audience rose in applause and were applauding for more than 10 minutes. I have never seen any politician, even president, to be given such honours. For me, it is an example of a person who showed how much can be gained if one stands by his country, remains adherent to his principles and ideals of freedom and justice,” spokesman of “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Atroshchankau told to the Charter’97 press center after the meeting with Dalai Lama.

On December 6, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Tibetan spiritual leader and winner of peace prize Dalai Lama, head of the Committee of the European Parliament on Foreign Affairs Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Serbian President Boris Tadic, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other famous European and world politicians are expected to come to the ceremony on an invitation of Lech Walesa. Israeli President Shimon Peres and last President of the ISSR Mikhail Gorbachev will take part in the conference on-line. Former candidate for presidency in Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich and first head of the Belarusian state Stanislau Shushkevich are also invited to the conference.

Spokesman of “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Atroshchankau and Dalai Lama

Photo by Yuliya Darashkevich, "Nasha Niva"