Belarusian opposition youth leaders sign manifesto of common goals
Young Belarusian public and political activists have stated their readiness to bear responsibility for the country's future. They also announced they would unite to achieve real changes in Belarus.
Co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Pavel Sevyarynets said that "it is high time for a change of generations" in the Belarusian democratic movement. "The efforts of the previous generations of Belarusian politicians and public activists led to a stronger political independence of the country, but they did not solve the problem of its national and spiritual revival, economic well-being, building a law-based state and the worthy development of Belarusian culture and science," he said.
Sevyarynets added that the mentality of the old political generation led to stagnation in the democratic movement, when leaders of different political forces cannot find common language for the sake of reaching common aims.
He contrasted the old generation with the young one. "Today, among the youth leaders, there are those who are ready for constructive dialogue with the authorities, and there are those who are uncompromising towards them. But we can find points of contact and agree among ourselves," Sevyarynets stressed.
A whole range of young public and political leaders signed a manifesto to unite their aims. They say that they welcome the EU's decision to include Belarus in the Eastern Partnership programme; approve of the strengthening economic, cultural and scientific ties of Belarus with the EU and cooperation of the EU, Belarusian civil society and political parties. They also support the leader of the For Freedom movement, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, in establishing Belarus-EU ties for strengthening Belarus's independence based on democratization and observance of human rights. They will coordinate their actions in order to work out and take specific steps towards reforming and integrating Belarus into the EU.
The document was signed by the deputy chairman of the For Freedom movement, Yuryy Hubarevich; deputy chairwoman of the Czech-based Young Front international organization, Anastasiya Palazhanka; the leader of the Young Belarus movement, Artur Finkevich, and others.
Source: Belapan news agency, Minsk, in Russian 1053 gmt 26 May 09
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