Campaign News

18:55, 15.03.2007

Aliaksandr Milinkevich’s position on Congress of Democratic forces

On Thursday March 15 the meeting of Palitrada (Political Council) of the United Democratic Forces was held in Minsk under the Presidency of Aliaksandr Milinkevich, leader of democratic forces. The main subject was the preparation for the next Congress of democratic forces (CDF).

Aliaksandr Milinkevich presented his position regarding the planned Congress.

“The Congress is not an goal in itself but a means, a mechanism for sending a signal to the Belarusian society that the united democratic forces exist in the country and they know how to change the situation in Belarus. In order to achieve this, the Congress must endorse the common platform of ideas of the United Democratic Forces that was before formulated and agreed upon by all the Palitrada’s members. It is essential that democratic movement activists on local level, voters understand what kind of values the party and NGOs leaders stand for. At this moment, there is no unity on that. Having contradictory approaches concerning the future of Belarus it is useless to hold a new Congress. It will only bring negative outcomes that will separate us eve more. We should be looking for a compromise on ideas for the Congress not on its date”, said A. Milinkevich.

Aliaksandr Milinkevich emphasized that Palirada members still diverge on the key issue of CDF delegates.

“My position has not changed: every delegate to the Congress must be a true representative of united democratic forces and be elected in compliance with democratic procedures. It is unacceptable to set any precedent, to give a hint to the Belarusian society that democratic opposition is capable of falsifications as well. We ought to guarantee as full as possible representation of all the participants of democratic movement. The Congress can not be considered as a narrow party meeting. It should represent all the spectrum of democratic society and be no less legitimate as October 2005 Congress. The Congress should embrace representatives of political parties, NGOs, and Belarusian intelligentsia” – stated A. Milinkevich.

We can take as basis the proposition “Compromise for the unity” put forward by Vintsuk Viachorka because this document allows us to correct mistakes made during the preparation for the Congress. I think that it is of paramount importance for Belarus to strengthen the unity of democratic forces that stand for independence of Belarus, its European and democratic future, - concluded A.Milinkevich.