Congress passed. What is to follow? :: Charter'97 :: News

26-27 May the Congress of Democratic Forces was held in Minsk. The Congress delegates adopted by the majority vote the strategy of actions of the united democratic forces (UDF) suggested by the Political Council of UDF. The strategy assumes a “constructive dialogue with the authorities”. Its authors remark that” through talks it is possible to achieve consolidation of all safe and sound forces of the Belarusian society necessary for preservation of the social peace and solution of the problems facing the country”. “The condition proving the authorities’ readiness for mutual cooperation with the democratic forces is the release of all the political prisoners”, the document runs.

Among the major directions of the UDF activities is the information campaign to be achieved through the dialogue with the society, its elite and authorities. With this in view the strategy developers suggest conducting of the “National Round Table” campaign. “The aim of the campaign is to avoid the crisis escalation, to preserve the public peace and provide the power legitimization in the country”, it is stressed in the draft strategy. In this case, as the document’s authors consider, “the agreement of the authorities on the dialogue at the highest level will itself be the proof of the dictator functions’ limitation and the democratic processes starting”.

“Smaller Constitution” adopted

The Congress delegates also adopted the “Smaller Constitution” and economic platform of the joint democratic coalition.

The constitutional law of the Republic of Belarus “On the system and authorities of the state and local self-governing bodies”(the so-called “smaller Constitution”), as it follows from its draft, “is adopted for the Belarusian state and society overcoming the lengthy constitutional crisis, for provision of the constitutional legitimacy, rights and freedoms of person and citizen». It is of a provisional character until coming into effect the new Constitution of the Republic of Belarus”.

The “smaller Constitution” contains 5 Sections where the principles of election, formation and activities of all branches of the state power” are prescribed. “The international treaties ratified by the Republic of Belarus make up a constituent part of the national legislation and are applicable for all the state bodies and their officials as the directly applicable law”; it is said in the draft.

The economic platform of the united democratic forces (UDF) has been also developed for the transition period (up to 3 years). The assessment of the socio-economic situation in the country is given .It is remarked in particular that “Belarus entered 2007 facing a lot of problems capable of causing the collapse of the economy and of sharp decrease of the living standard of the population. “We are facing the threat of the national currency devaluation, savings’ losses and sharp unemployment increase”, it is said in the document.

“The united democratic forces see the way out in fundamental alteration of the economic course of the country. Its major parameters are gradual restriction of the state’s participation in the economy, denial of the state monopoly, development of the market economy on the basis of pluralism of the forms of ownership and updated technologies”, it is said in the document.

“Mikalai Statkevich suggested the alternative action strategy“

Head of the organizing committee on initiation of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party
(Narodnaya Gramada), former political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich suggested the alternative action strategy of the democratic coalition to the delegates of the Congress of Democratic Forces.

The major decision for the Congress to take, considers M. Statkevich, is not on the number of co-chairmen of the Political Council but on how to win. The policymaker suggested the strategy of struggle based on the European values. To come to power it is necessary to struggle here and now, the policymaker stressed.

Mikalai Statkevich also proposed to discuss the action strategy of the democratic coalition not at the end of the Congress when all the forum delegates get tired, but at the beginning. However, the alternative of the strategy suggested by the European coalition (the movement embracing socio-democratic and youth activists) was nor put to vote.

“Alyaksandr Milinkevich ”Opposition is suffering serious crises”

Alyaksandr Milinkevich considers that presently opposition is suffering serious crises. The policymaker declared that in his speech at the Congress of Democratic Forces of Belarus, but it is necessary to start overcoming it. , Considers the former presidential candidate of Belarus.

He remarked that if in 2001 the people were leaving the opposition due to its failure (in 2001 the presidential election took place in Belarus-the BelaPAN’s remark), now it is because of the absence of serious work”.

“Milinkevich is not to be the leader for ever, but I do not believe that the victory is possible without the leader, Alyaksandr Milinkevich declared. The leader is to be –that is my firm standpoint”.

The policymaker considers that after the election of co-chairmen the chances for the opposition to win will diminish .He remarked that” the struggle for power has been changed for the struggle for power within the opposition”. According to A. Milinkevich, the coalition is an excellent thing but it is not the “sacred cow”. It must become the means, the instrument and if it does not give any results it has to be revised. ”The simulation of the opposition’s activities will not find support within the society”, the former presidential candidate considers. That is why the major result of the Congress is to become the development of the actual activities of the opposition and not its imitation”.

Alyaksandr Milinkevich remarked that he was at the side of the “European coalition” of the democratic forces, which strategy was suggested by head of the organizing committee on initiation of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada) Mikalai Statkevich. According to him, it is close to the strategy of the “For Freedom” movement that also presumes round tables with representatives of the authorities, but only such round tables, which provide the real discussion of the problems.

Alyaksandr Milinkevich remarked that the opposition has to get prepared for electing the real oppositional leader, but for all that he is ”ready to take the responsibility”. According to him the “For Freedom” movement, which is being founded at the moment, is not the alternative to the Congress but “the attempt of giving the opportunity to work for those who are eager to work quicker”.

There are to be four co-chairmen

Right after the Congress of Democratic Forces finished its work the new Political Council’s sitting was held. 4 co-chairman’s candidacies were approved, the BelaPAN reported.

Among them are leaders of the United Civil Party Alyaksandr Lyabedzka, Party of the Communists Belarusian Syargei Kalyakin, Party of the BNF Vintsuk Vyachorka, acting chairman of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Gramada) Anatol Lyaukovich.

Each co-chairman is to be assigned to a particular branch of activities, but actually the activities have not been distributed yet by the Political Council. It is due to the fact that the post of co-chairman was refused by head of “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich. Initially it was planned that the Political Council would be headed by 5 co-chairmen and each of them would be responsible for a particular range of activities. Now after decision of Alyaksandr Milinkevich the activities are to be redistributed.

“How efficient the new Political Council will be the “ autopsy” will show, A. Lyabedzka metaphorically stated. If we manage to distribute the activities among ourselves and make the Political Council tick it will be great. By the way, the key- word at the Congress was “ action”. And now the most important aspect is also action”.

The next sitting of the Political Council is to be held in the near future.