The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed

• 5.12.2007, 16:28

The organisers of a meeting of the entrepreneurs which is to be held in Minsk on 10 December were invited to visit the City Executive Committee. Entrepreneurs Alyaksandr Makeeu, Viktar Kalei, Aleg Shabetnik and Viktar Kryvol met with Genadz Kurbeka, deputy head on ideology of the City Committee, and Raman Melnik, deputy chief of police of public security and special police of the City Internal Affairs Department. The officials suggested the entrepreneurs to hold the meeting on Bangalor Square. The action organisers refused flatly. They said entrepreneurs would protest only on Kastrychnitskaya (October) Square.

“We don’t see other opportunities to change the situation with free enterprise in Belarus. We disagree strongly to go to Bangalor Square. The action will be held only on Kastrychnitskaya Square. The organisers are ready to bear responsibility. I encourage my colleagues not to fear and come out to the square,” entrepreneurs’ leader Alyaksandr Makeeu said in the interview to the Charter’97 press center.

Applicant for the action Viktar Kalei shares the opinion of Makeeu.

“I am tired of senseless walking on Bangalor Square. It doesn’t solve the problems. Of course, we want to have negotiations with the authorities. But there are no real negotiations, just monologue of the authorities. If they don’t hear us now, they will possibly hear us when we will go to Kastrychnitskaya Square,” the entrepreneur said to the Charter’97 press center.

It should be reminded that a meeting of entrepreneurs is to be held on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk at 12.00 p.m. on 10 December. Among the main requirements of entrepreneurs are repeal of discriminating decree № 760 of 29 December 2006, stopping of persecution of entrepreneurs for their expression of opinion and fulfillment 12 EU’s offers by the government, including respect for rights of Belarusian citizens for fair trial and for entrepreneurial business without excessive control by the authorities.