Authorities agree to dialog?
- 8.10.2007, 17:02
In Minsk City Executive Committee a meeting of the European March organizers and the representatives of the local authorities took place. Viktar Ivashkevich, the European March organizing committee head and the BNF Party (Belarusian Popular Front) deputy head, the BNF leader Vintsuk Viachorka, one of the leaders of “Malady Front” (Young Front) organization Zmiter Hvedaruk and activist of the civil campaign “Jeens – For Freedom” Yauhen Afnahel had an appointment with the head of ideological department of the Minsk City Executive Committee Henadz Kurbeka, duputy state prosecutor of Minsk Aliaksandr Stuk and deputy chief of the City Internal Affairs Department Ivan Melnikau.
The Minsk City Executive Committee representatives said the decision on permission of the European March hasn’t been yet taken and invited the organizers to discuss the route of the European March. The sides expressed their opinions concerning the possible variants of the action. According to civil campaign “Jeens – For Freedom” activist Yauhen Afnahel, the meeting was constructive.
“Both sides express the desire to discuss the variants of holding of the European March. Both we and the authorities express the desire to hold a peaceful action. We offered to give the information about the European March on state television, radio and news-papers and asked them to give us the cars with sound amplifier. It was the first time after many years when the authorities didn’t announce the opposition the ready decision, but were holding a dialog. The Minsk City Executive Committee representatives said the decision will be taken in view of the today’s meeting and will be sent to the European March organizers”, - Yauhen Afnahel said the Charter’97 press center.
Viktar Ivashkevich, the European March organizing committee head also remarks that the authorities are going to have a dialog with the opposition on the issue of holding the European March.
“Firstly, Minsk City Executive Committee representative Henadz Kurbeka said that they met with us to have a dialog concerning the action, to find the proper solution. So, we had a dialog, it is a fact. Secondly, Kurbeka spoke Belarusian. Thirdly, they didn’t give us the ready decision, but discussed the possible variants and told they will think. I hope they agree to our arguments and tomorrow the authorities will come to a decision taking into account our approaches”, - Viktar Ivashkevich said to Charter’97 press center.