Stanislau Shushkevich met with presidents of Baltic countries and Poland

The first leader of independent Belarus arrived to celebrations in Lithuania in a plane of Polish president Lech Kaczynski.

On March 11 the former chairman of the Supreme Soviet, the leader of the Social Democratic Hramada Stanislau Shushkevich represented Belarus at the celebrations in Vilnius dedicated to the 20th anniversary of restoration of Lithuania’s independence. Presidents of all European countries, leaders of parliaments, politicians and diplomats of many countries of the world have taken part in the event.

On the day before, on March 10 the first leader of independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich was in Warsaw where he had a meeting with Foreign Minister of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, MPs of Sejm and Senate, as well as with Undersecretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland Mariusz Handzlik.

Right from Warsaw Stanislau Shushkevich was to fly to Vilnius. However the president of Poland Lech Kaczynski called personally to him and offered to fly to Vilnius together I the president’s aircraft.

“I traveled together with Lech Kaczynski in his aircraft, and on the way we had a chance to talk in private for more than 40 minutes. We arrived at full understanding. I was pleased that the position on Belarus of the president, of the Sejm and even of the Foreign Ministry of Poland at the moment had become the same. They understand that anti-democratic nature of the Belarusian regime is related not only to Poles, it is the general situation in the country where rights of all citizens are violated. Lukashenka’s regime represses Belarusian poles as they are active, self-motivated citizens who fight for their rights and want to create structures of civil society in the country. Everybody is persecuted for freethinking and desire of democracy in Belarus today, and the leadership of Poland understands that,” Stanislau Shushkevich said in an interview to charger97.org website.

On March 11 the former Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus took part in the celebrations in Lithuanian Seimas and the Presidential palace. Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė personally invited Stanislau Shushkevich to the festive dinner together with presidents of European countries. As said by the politician, he liked talking to Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė a lot: “It was very pleasant to talk to her and to see how she is respected in the country and by colleagues from other countries of Europe,” Shushkevich said.

The first leader of independent Belarus also held meetings with the president of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, Estonia's President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, former president of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and former President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel.

“We spoke a lot about the situation in Belarus and about approaches of Europe to the problem of democrtcy in our country. I do not want how presidents understand this situation and how they plan to act to improve it. I do not want the Belarusian regime to know it ahead of time. But I must say that ideas are interesting. Presidents understand that the Belarusian authorities have made no real steps of democratization. Nobody should be convinced about that. We should proceed from words to actions. I can only say that as far as I have understood Lukashenka won’t be given irresponsible loans any more,” Stanislau Shushkevich said.

As for the official Belarusian delegation headed by Vice Premiere Viktar Bura which arrived to Vilnius after the denial of Alyaksandr Lukashenka to attend the celebration, as said by Shushkevich, he “hadn’t even seen them”. It is not clear what Belarusian officials did in Lithuania and with whom they met.

On March 11 in the evening Stanislau Shushkevich will also meet with MPs of Lithuanian Seimas who signed the Act of Independence 20 years ago.

“It is a great holiday in Lithuania. Lots of people are strolling the streets of Vilnius, the weather is fine, a prayer service in the Cathedral church is held. A festive march of young people in the central streets was held, a march of free people. My spirits rose, though I had only two-hour sleep in recent days. It is obvious that people know how to celebrate and mark wonderful holidays. Lithuanians have deserved that. They had been fighting for freedom self-denyingly and fearlessly, and they have won it,” Stanislau Shushkevich said.