Belarusian and Russian oppositionists met in Moscow
- 31.08.2010, 12:08
A traditional Belarusian-Russian conference was held in a hotel Zolotoye Koltso in Moscow.
Opening the event, the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka noted that “every Russian politician believes he is a great expert on Belarus. And representatives of the Belarusian political elite have become accustomed to a conviction that they are distinguished experts on Russia. But in reality there is a real insufficiency of serious analytics and expert examination. And it means that the demand for such communications platforms as the Belarusian-Russian conference is yet to grow.
As the practice shows, the monopoly of the state on the relations of the two countries is a barrier and evil, which hinder normal effective relations of Belarus and Russia”.
Among the speakers of the conference from the Belarusian side were Alyaksandr Klaskouski, the head of analytical programs of BelaPAN agency, political analyst Valery Karbalevich, economist and President of Scientific Research Mises Center Yaraslau Ramanchuk, the head of “Novak” laboratory Andrei Vardamatski. The Russian side was represented by Vladimir Ryzhkov, Boris Nemtsov, Leonid Gozman, Vyacheslav Inozemtsev.
More than 50 politicians, experts, journalists from Russia and Belarus have taken part in the forum.
Ryzhkov: “This is the end of the union. It should be stated as a fact”
Vladimir Ryzhkov, leader of "Vybor Rossii" (Russia’s Choice) movement, in his report at het August conference stated: “This is the end of the union. It should be stated as a fact. Has the time of pragmatic cooperation started? Not yet, as it is to be based upon rationalism, in other words, a range of pluses and minuses for the both parties”.
The Russian politician also said that by building pragmatic relations, the positive things which exist in the relations of Russia and Belarus, probably despite to politicians, should not be destroyed.
Gozman: “An illusion of successful dictatorship is dangerous for Russia”
“We are living in the world of stereotypes and wild goose chase chimeras,” said the leader of Right Cause party at the conference.
“It is believed in our country that everything is wonderful in Belarus. There are no traffic jams, pit bogs are not burning, there are no oligarchs, collective farms are working and MAZ trucks are manufactured non-stop. An illusion of a successful dictatorship is dangerous for Russia. It robs the country of democratic prospects”.
Nemtsov: “We are not going to help the Belarusian dictator”
“They tried to use us in the war between Lukashenka and Putin, like Saakashvili was used,” stated one of the leaders of “Solidarnost” movement, former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Boris Nemtsov. “But we are not going to help the Belarusian dictator and betray our democratic brothers-in-arms in Belarus”.
Boris Nemtsov expressed an optimistic view on the future of Belarus: “you have only one problem, Lukashenka. And Belarus itself is a European country with huge potential and good prospects. Here in Russia we need a positive example. We want you to win and set a good example for imitation”.