28 February 2002
United Civic Party to increase presence in Brest region

 The United Civic Party (UCP) plans to increase its presence in the Brest region, UCP leader Anatoly Lebedko told BelaPAN after meeting his party's regional bosses in Brest on February 26.
Mr. Lebedko said that the UCP was weaker in Brest than in other regions partly because of frequent changes in its leadership. "I believe that the party has a great potential in Brest, but the lack of good infrastructure weakens the UCP's ties with voters," Mr. Lebedko said. "Our economic program is the strongest point, but the party is out of touch with the population. We can communicate all [our
ideas] through our branches only."
Within the next 18 months, the UCP intends to set up new branches in Brest, Baranovichi, Pinsk, Luninets and Kobrin. "We are preparing for large-scale participation in the local elections," Mr. Lebedko said.
He noted that Nikolai Yaromich might be replaced as chairman of the Brest regional branch at a conference coming up in March. "Yaromich, an intelligent and educated man, has a good potential, but no time to pay enough attention to the party questions."