Opposition groups set to adopt common assessment of situation ahead of presidential election
Belarus’ pro-democratic parties and organizations will adopt a document that will represent a common assessment of the situation in the country ahead of the next presidential election, Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party, told BelaPAN on Tuesday.
"Representatives of pro-democratic parties and organizations held a meeting today on my initiative to discuss the situation in the country ahead of a presidential election and concluded that a common assessment of the situation should be formulated," Mr. Lyabedzka said.
According to him, he will devise a draft document within a week, which will contain an assessment of the situation and steps to be taken domestically and in the international arena.
"We’ll meet against in a week to discuss specific points in the document," he said. "I hope we’ll manage to reach an agreement."
According to Mr. Lyabedzka, attending the meeting were Ivan Antashkevich, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Hramada"; Alyaksandr Bukhvostaw, chairman of the founding committee for the Belarusian Party of Working People; Ryhor Kastusyow, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front; Vital Rymashewski, co-chairman of the founding committee for the Belarusian Christian Democracy party; Alyaksandr Milinkevich, chairman of the Movement for Freedom; Mikalay Statkevich, co-chairman of the European Coalition; and Alyaksandr Yarashuk, chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.
As Mr. Lyabedzka said, Syarhey Kalyakin, leader of the Belarusian Party of Communists; former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin; and Stanislaw Shushkevich, chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, were absent for valid reasons.
Belarus’ next presidential election is to be held no later than February 8, 2011.
"Representatives of pro-democratic parties and organizations held a meeting today on my initiative to discuss the situation in the country ahead of a presidential election and concluded that a common assessment of the situation should be formulated," Mr. Lyabedzka said.
According to him, he will devise a draft document within a week, which will contain an assessment of the situation and steps to be taken domestically and in the international arena.
"We’ll meet against in a week to discuss specific points in the document," he said. "I hope we’ll manage to reach an agreement."
According to Mr. Lyabedzka, attending the meeting were Ivan Antashkevich, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Hramada"; Alyaksandr Bukhvostaw, chairman of the founding committee for the Belarusian Party of Working People; Ryhor Kastusyow, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front; Vital Rymashewski, co-chairman of the founding committee for the Belarusian Christian Democracy party; Alyaksandr Milinkevich, chairman of the Movement for Freedom; Mikalay Statkevich, co-chairman of the European Coalition; and Alyaksandr Yarashuk, chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.
As Mr. Lyabedzka said, Syarhey Kalyakin, leader of the Belarusian Party of Communists; former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin; and Stanislaw Shushkevich, chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, were absent for valid reasons.
Belarus’ next presidential election is to be held no later than February 8, 2011.