Opposition hails US-proposed Belarus Democracy Act :: Charter'97 :: News

The US Congress will "in any case" support the Belarus Democracy Act [introduced by the US government`s Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe], the leaders of the Five-Plus Popular Coalition [Belarusian opposition election alliance including the United Civic Party, the BPF-Revival Party, the Belarusian Labour Party, the Party of Communists of Belarus and the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada] believe. They said this at a meeting with journalists in Minsk on 16 February, speaking about the results of their working visit to Washington.

The Belarus Democracy Act envisages significant support for the development of democracy in this country, including support for NGOs to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections in 2004, as well as organizing TV and radio broadcasting to Belarus.

The act envisages the allocation of 40m dollars in 2004-05 for financing its programmes. Additional 5m dollars will be allocated for financing the Voice of America and Radio Liberty [US government-financed stations] broadcasts.

According to the chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, Stanislaw Shushkevich, the necessity for adopting this document was discussed practically at all meetings of the Five-Plus coalition representatives with US officials.

The BPF-Revival Party leader, Vintsuk Vyachorka, believes that "the act is a document showing US readiness to provide support for democracy in Belarus at the legislative level."

United Civic Party Chairman Anatol Lyabedzka added that the Belarusian authorities are trying to oppose the approval of this document by the US Congress and are even trying to create a pro-Belarusian lobby in the US Senate.

The politician stressed that opposition parties will not benefit financially from the Belarus Democracy Act as the allocated funds will be used for supporting the independent media and NGOs. "If the money is allocated, we will only welcome this decision," Lyabedzka said.

The leaders of "the five" noted that the US political elite is interested in the situation in Belarus, which was proved by a high level of meetings held in Washington.
An agreement on holding hearings on Belarus in the US Congress was reached during the visit. Similar hearings will be also held at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly soon.