28 February 2008
Kazulin: I forgive Lukashenka for everything
Opposition politician Alyaksandr Kazulin said that he forgives Alyaksandr Lukashenka for "everything" what he has done.
"My family forgives him for everything. Let it remain on his conscience what he has done," Dr. Kazulin said at an online questions-and-answers session that was hosted by BelaPAN’s online newspaper Belorusskiye Novosti on Thursday.
"I extend my hand to him before the cherished memory of my wife and the Belarusian people," the politician said. "Because I have understood that violence should not be responded with violence, or else we will become similar to the present-day authorities. We should extend our hand – the hand of help and understanding that the last line should not be crossed — to them without grudge. There are concepts that are much stronger such as conscience, honor, compassion, mercy and, finally, humanity. Violence, total violence that apparently takes place in our country always leads to decay. But what is the worst is that it leads to the decay of the most sacred things, to spiritual poverty, and to a moral desert. We cannot let this happen. Whatever we may wish, Lukashenka is part of our history. And despite many sins that the present-day authorities have committed, they have a chance to pause and think."
"I do not think anything about specific talks today. I just offer my hand and am prepared to accept Lukashenka's," he went to say.
He expressed hope that the Belarusian leader also "will forget personal offenses and things that are in the past and also will sincerely extend his hand."
"I suggest drawing a line under the past, put a final dot and begin everything with a blank sheet. I hope that it will happen," he said.
The politician stressed that he had never refused to come to the negotiating table, and even offered authorities talks at the beginning of the 2006 presidential campaign. "But talks should be between equals without dictate and the imposition of the will by those strongest," he said. "That is why when dictate started dominating I had no other choice but to show the rottenness and illegality of our regime, stand up and confront a concrete wall, which could not be destroyed at the time but in which it was absolutely realistic to smash a hole, undermine the foundations of the authorities and show their true face, something what I have done."
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news2107.html