Movement for Freedom set to hold “European Forum“ no later than November
The Movement for Freedom plans to hold a "European Forum" no later than November 2009, Deputy Chairman Viktar Karnyayenka told BelaPAN on Wednesday.
The forum will be organized in cooperation with the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, the Party of Freedom and Progress, Malady Front and other interested organizations, Mr. Karnyayenka said. At a meeting held on June 3, activists of the Movement decided to recommend Chairman Alyaksandr Milinkevich to urge politicians advocating a "European choice for Belarus" to join the organizers, Mr. Karnyayenka said.
Under discussion at the forum will be practical issues, such as ways of getting the European Union to reduce visa fees for Belarusians, he said.
According to Mr. Karnyayenka, there are no plans to nominate a common presidential candidate at the forum. The organizing committee for the European Forum is to hold a meeting later on Wednesday and Mr. Milinkevich is expected to become its chairman, Mr. Karnyayenka said.
After Mr. Milinkevich initiated a "Congress of Pro-European Forces" last month, several opposition groups affiliated with the so-called European Coalition announced that they would hold a "Congress for a European Choice" on June 21.
The United Pro-democratic Forces, Belarus' major opposition coalition, then urged the European Coalition and the Movement for Freedom to abandon their plans to hold separate congresses and instead hold a joint
"Congress of Pro-democratic Forces" this fall.
The forum will be organized in cooperation with the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, the Party of Freedom and Progress, Malady Front and other interested organizations, Mr. Karnyayenka said. At a meeting held on June 3, activists of the Movement decided to recommend Chairman Alyaksandr Milinkevich to urge politicians advocating a "European choice for Belarus" to join the organizers, Mr. Karnyayenka said.
Under discussion at the forum will be practical issues, such as ways of getting the European Union to reduce visa fees for Belarusians, he said.
According to Mr. Karnyayenka, there are no plans to nominate a common presidential candidate at the forum. The organizing committee for the European Forum is to hold a meeting later on Wednesday and Mr. Milinkevich is expected to become its chairman, Mr. Karnyayenka said.
After Mr. Milinkevich initiated a "Congress of Pro-European Forces" last month, several opposition groups affiliated with the so-called European Coalition announced that they would hold a "Congress for a European Choice" on June 21.
The United Pro-democratic Forces, Belarus' major opposition coalition, then urged the European Coalition and the Movement for Freedom to abandon their plans to hold separate congresses and instead hold a joint
"Congress of Pro-democratic Forces" this fall.