BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/08/2007

Belarusian Opposition Plans 'European March' In October

The Belarusian opposition on August 14 formally asked the Minsk City Executive Committee for permission to stage a demonstration called the "European March" in the Belarusian capital on October 14, Belapan reported. Viktar Ivashkevich, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front (BNF), told journalists that the main objective of the march is to show the Belarusian opposition's orientation toward Europe. "The pro-democratic forces [want to] send a signal to the Belarusian civil servants that the opposition is ready to hold talks for carrying out democratic reforms with due regard for their interests," Ivashkevich said. Along with Ivashkevich, the official organizers of the demonstration include BNF Chairman Vintsuk Vyachorka; Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party; Alyaksandr Milinkevich, leader of the Movement for Freedom; and opposition youth leaders Zmitser Fedaruk and Yauhen Afnahel. Milinkevich, a former opposition presidential candidate who in May rejected a decision at an opposition congress to introduce a collective opposition leadership, on August 14 stressed his full support for the planned march. "Talk of a split in our ranks is greatly exaggerated... There is much we can do together. Our joint aim is to live in a democracy," Reuters quoted Milinkevich as saying. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/08/3-cee/cee-150807.asp

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