How the Belarusian TV was translating van der Linden :: Charter'97 :: News

On January 21 in the "Panorama nedely" program the recording of Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe interview was broadcasted. "To my mind, the new situation is being set up in Belarus. It is ready to become more open and to make concrete steps to demonstrate the EU that it is able to maintain the open dialogue in terms of the most important priorities for the European Union. And this situation has been set up, I believe, before my arrival," the Belarusian TV translated the words of van der Linden.

According to van der Linden, his impression was that after" the energy conflict" between Russia and Belarus the majority of people whom he talked to "have become more open, tending to maintain better relations with European structures." "It is important both to Belarus and the whole Europe," emphasized head of the PACE (all quotations are from the First channel`s translation).

"As you know, it is considered in the European Union that Belarus does not share the European Union ‘s viewpoint . It concerns the elections, president`s policy, role of opposition and civil society," van der Linden said . "I pointed all those aspects out at the meetings as one of the pre-conditions for the open dialogue commencement. It would be very useful, if your government receives the experts from the EU countries for them to prepare the report on the policy of president as different points of view exist on the subject. Let us ask the international experts to make the report and then we`ll consider whether to agree with them or not."

In the original of the van der Linden`s speech the phrase about "prisoners considered as political prisoners" has been used and not "on the policy of president"

During the talk with the TV journalists van der Linden also declared that he didn`t recommend for the official Minsk to extend the energy conflict with Russia.

"Certainly, I do understand your feelings, your disappointment, but you also have to understand: when the prices are going up you have to negotiate", head of the PACE declared. "I would strongly recommend : do not extend the conflict as it is in the interests of your country to maintain good neighborhood relations with Russia as well as with European countries. And if is so, it will also help in building new relationships."