BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Aug. 14, 2005 at 9:07AM

Lech Walesa backs Balarus revolt

Polish revolutionary leader Lech Walesa is lending support and advice to the possibility of revolt in neighboring Belarus, the BBC reports.

Walesa is the founder of the trade union movement, Solidarity, in Poland, a former Polish leader and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Walesa told would-be revolutionaries in Balarus not to expect help from the West in overthrowing what is thought to be Europe's most repressive regime.

He said that if regime change is successful, the European Union should immediately extend a welcome in order to foster democracy.

Solidarity, which led the overthrow of communist rule in Poland and catapulted Walesa to the Polish presidency, was founded 25 years ago.

Source:

http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20050814-071315-1047r.htm