Congress of Belarusians of the world under threat of breakdown
- 20.04.2009, 9:17
The 5th congress of the Batskaushchyna, the World Association of the Belarusians, scheduled for July 18–19, may take place on one of the Minsk squares.
World Association of the Belarusians Batskaushchyna refused another refusal of holding the congress of the Belarusians of the world, the website of the organization reports.
The organization got refusals from the administrations of the Culture Center of the Minsk Tractor Plant, and other 16 premises of Minsk. Even the International Education Center (IBB) denied leasing premises.
Most refusals were explained with “repair works”. In particular, the Culture Center of the House of Trade Unions, Minsk Concert Hall, the Culture Center of the Minsk Automobile plant and the Minsk Tractor Plant, lecture hall of the University of Linguistics will be repaired in July. The House of Officers has problems with fire security.
First requests of World Association of the Belarusians Batskaushchyna were met with interest in all organizations. But some weeks later, all institutions refused to rent the premises.
According to the leadership of the organization, the “repair epidemic” in Minsk demonstrates a political decision of the governmental bodies. This decision is short-making it possible for Belarusian emigrants to take part in it.
“It’s hard to believe that Minsk buildings will be repaired amid the economic crisis. In my view, it would be logical if they tried to earn on leasing. So, a political decision can be seen behind this.
We will start negotiations with our partners abroad on changing the place of the congress, for example to hold the congress in Lithuania, Vilnius,” the head of the organization Alena Makouskaya told Euroradio.
She thinks refusal to hold the forum in the mother country will have a negative impact on Belarus’s image in the world.
Congresses of the World Association of the Belarusians Batskaushchyna are held every four years.
The congress this year is expected to be attended by leaders and members of the foreign Belarusian organizations from more than 20 countries, as well as by representatives of the Belarusian creative circles, politicians, and public figures from Belarus.