Council of Europe notices absence of dialog between authorities and opposition in Belarus
- 25.06.2008, 9:13
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Subcommittee on Belarus discussed the situation in Belarus in the context of elections.
An official position was represented by Anatol Krasutski, deputy head of the international commission of the “house of representatives”, an alternative one was represented by Anatol Lyabedzka, head of the United Civil Party.
Anatol Lyabedzka told to Radio Svaboda on telephone from Strasbourg, that time Russia’s representatives weren’t so aggressive as usual towards the Belarusian opposition:
“There were some comments from Russian and Turkish delegations. They welcomed the dialog itself, they said it was very important that there existed opposition to the authorities and they could reach a consensus. But a Hungarian representative made a right statement that is was also important how we understood the dialog. If the dialog doesn’t contain a concrete agenda, if concrete questions are not solved, if it is blurred, it doesn’t help the situation.
What concerns the main theme of the debates, it was elections campaign, of course. Everyone was interested what can be changed something if it is possible at all within the time before the elections. A message from the participants of the discussion and from us is the authorities have the ball now. But if they want to open the door to the Council of Europe, they should make steps forward the demands of Europe.”
Alyaksandr Lukashenka has recently said he was ready to give some seats in the parliament to the opposition figures for Europe to be glad. Is it going to be so?
Co-head of the United Democratic Forces doesn’t agree:
“I said bargaining is not suitable for us, when principles and values of the Council of Europe is a bargaining object for three or four seats for UDF members. It is absolutely unacceptable for us, we can’t even speak about it.”
Politologist Uladzimer Rouda also warns to withstand the temptation to get to the parliament through the agreements with the authorities:
“Actually, Lukashenka and Yarmoshyna can define two-five people, who would be able to represent pseudo-opposition in the House of Representatives. They would make scandals, pro-regime TV channel would show them. They would say: “Look, how the opposition quarrels among themselves.” Because they will struggle against one another, not stand together against the president. They would create such opposition to satisfy the West and gain some credits. But it would mean for the opposition to play their game, to lose the mind and moral dignity.”