29 September 2007
Belarusian opposition has many people who could be worthy alternative to incumbent leader
The Belarusian opposition has many people who could be a worthy alternative to the incumbent leader if given equal political opportunities, Lubomir Regak, Slovakia's charge d'affaires in Belarus, told BelaPAN.
“I believe that the Belarusian opposition is not to blame for its miserable state as is often alleged,” Mr. Regak said. “Given all the persecution, hounding and vilification, the denial of access to the media, defenselessness against the government’s arbitrary rule, one should in fact be surprised that the opposition has survived.”
Mr. Regak added that in democratic countries, the opposition is represented in the parliament, follows the actions of the government, criticizes the authorities and tries to convince voters that it can do a better job. “This is how the government is shaped at all levels, ensuring the rule of the people,” he said.
Mr. Regak described the opposition’s demonstration scheduled for October 14, European March for Freedom, as a display of support by Belarus’ civil society for the government’s tentative attempts to improve relations with its European neighbors. “We expect that the government will not obstruct the peaceful march of those advocating rapprochement with Europe for fear of discrediting itself once again by making its words contradictory to actions,” Mr. Regak said, adding that the march was not organized by the European Union but by Belarusian intellectuals and politicians.
Mr. Regak said that the EU might impose new sanctions on Belarus in the event of a dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation. “But in all honesty, the EU has no intention to take such unfriendly steps,” he noted. “On the contrary, there’s a wish to make the Belarusian partners realize that one should be friends and not enemies with the neighbors, let alone fellow citizens.”
The Slovak embassy to Belarus has been the European Union (EU)’s local representative on behalf of Portugal since July 1, 2007. Slovakia will chair the Council of Europe from November 2007 through May 2008.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news1564.html