European March to be held 14 October :: Charter'97 :: News

The democratic forces submitted to the Minsk city executive council a request for holding the European March “For Freedom!" The European March is due at 2 p.m. in Oktyabrskaya Square of Minsk. The March has the following route: along the side-walk of Nezavisimosty Avenue from Oktyabrskaya Square to the site in front of the National Library of the Republic of Belarus where the meeting is to be held. That has been declared by the deputy chairman of the BNF Party Viktar Vashkevich , international coordinator of the Charter’97 Adrei Sannikov, chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka , chairman of the “For Freedom!” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich , coordinator of the European Coalition, chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada) Mikalai Statkevich.

The policymakers announced that the action was aimed at demonstrating the European choice made by the Belarusian people and at implementation of 12 proposals of the European Union on closer and more effective cooperation with our country.

The democratic forces are sending the Belarusian officials a message that the opposition is ready for the talks on pursuing the democratic reforms with taking into account the authorities’ viewpoints.

“The policymakers’ maturity both official and oppositional is determined not by their confrontation intentions but by their openness to the dialogue and compromise .That is why the action initiated by the democratic forces is suggested as an attempt for realizing our readiness to compromise for the future of our country. In this case the talks over the particular action are meant. Moreover, the authorities mentioned once in a while that they used to invite the opposition to participate in the event in support for the independent Belarus. We express our readiness. The events taking place in Belarus and outside make everybody realize that changing of the power in Belarus is inevitable. We are not indifferent to how it is to happen: under the Kremlin’s pressure or by looking for a compromise inside the country for protecting its independence together with the energy independence. To our mind, only this can provide a closer cooperation with Europe as well as the strategic European choice”, the initiator of the European March, international coordinator of the Charter’97 Andrei Sannikov declared at the press-conference in Minsk.

Sannikov exclusively mentioned Viktar Vashkevich’s role in organizing the practical activities on preparation for the European March.

“ Usually actions of the opposition in totalitarian countries mean the actions confronting violation of human rights , political repressions, election farces .The European March does not mean the struggle , it means the action for opening the way to Europe for Belarus, where our country has always been historically. Today we are facing the problem of civilized choice: either to participate in creation of the Byzantine imperia or to integrate with Europe. The number of Belarusians supporting the European choice is constantly increasing. That is why I hope that the action which is so important for the destiny of Belarus will be supported by the official authorities”, chairman of the “For Freedom!” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich remarked.

“The European Marc is a part of the strategy of the united democratic forces and it was supported by practically all subjects of the coalition. The life makes us not “fly on one wing” ,as Alyaksandr Lukashenka once remarked. The foreign policy must be well-balanced and Belarus must certainly develop its relationship with Europe “, the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka is certain.

“Even the authorities have realized today that Belarus has to improve its relations with the European countries. The European Union today has reached our boarders. The European choice for Belarus is exclusively important. The slogans of the European integration are especially close to Belarusians. The yare clear to the poor and the rich, too the young and the old. That is the European living standard, the European education, freedom and democracy. Hopefully, together we shall make Belarus become a member of the European Union”, said coordinator of the European coalition, chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada) Mikalai Statkevich .

The European March is “is to be held under the following slogans :” Implementation of the 12 EU offers guarantee economic and energetic independence of Belarus”, ”For Freedom! For Belarus!”, “For European Values!”, “Dialogue between opposition and authorities to be a condition for the country’s dynamic development “, “For European Belarus”, “European Wages to European Prices”.

Among the action applicants are chairman of the European March organizing committee, deputy chairman of the BNF Party Viktar Vashkevich, member of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom!” Yauhen Afnahel, leader of the BNF Party Vintsuk Vyachorka , chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the “For Freedom!” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich , one of the Young Front leaders , member of the European Coalition Zmitser Fedaruk.

The European March has been supported by the European Coalition, BNF Party , “For Freedom!” movement , Charter’97 organizing committee , Young Front ,civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom!”, the United Civil Party, of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada) ,Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada) , Party of Communists Belarusian, ”Volnaya Moladz” organization, organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party, many entrepreneurs and public organizations.

Viktar Vashkevich also reported about the establishment of the group for maintaining the dialogue with the authorities on holding the European March.Among the group members are the action applicants,the international coordinator of the Charter’97, former foreign minister of Belarus Andrei Sannikov , extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador , minister for international economic affairs Mikhail Marynich , deputy chairman of the BNF Party Yuri Khadika, former head of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus , professor Stanislqau Bagdankevich.

Remark of the Charter’97: Nowadays the Belarusian officials often make declarations on the necessity of the integration of Belarus to European structures. Thus the special envoy of the Belarusian foreign ministry Syargie Gaidukevich declared that Belarus should not deny integration to European structures and the ambassador of Belarus to Poland Pavel Latushka, according to the Polish newspaper «Zycie Warszawy”, declared that in ten years Belarus is to become the European Union member.

Photo of Lidziya Bandarenka, press-service of BNF