Declaration by the Executive Council of Rada BNR on the official policies toward the Union of Poles in Belarus

Declaration by the Executive Council of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic

11 August 2005

The Executive Council of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR Rada) has considered the policies and administrative measures of the regime holding power in Belarus toward the Union of Poles in Belarus, and the circumstances of current crisis in diplomatic relations between the said regime and the Republic of Poland, and has issued the following declaration:

The present conflict has developed as a direct result of the regime’s consistent policy that treats any public activities beyond its control as political dissent and hence subject to suppression.

The policy of suppressing independent non-governmental organisations has been recently extended to ethnic minorities, namely the Union of Poles in Belarus. Increasingly desperate for total control in Belarus and hostile to the entire civilised world, the regime of A. Lukashenka has shown little regard for international public opinion while conducting its policy to take over or eradicate any public organisation in the country.

In the view of the above, the Executive Council of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic fully expresses its agreement and solidarity with the Declaration from the Presidency on Behalf of the European Union from 2 August 2005 which was highly critical of the situation in Belarus.

It considers that the undemocratic regime in Belarus at present conducts a deliberate campaign against the interest of a particular ethnic minority and neighbouring country.

It reiterates that from its inception in 1918, the BNR Rada and all the successive governments of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in the country and in exile remained consistently committed to  protecting the interests of ethnic minorities in Belarus.

In summary, it strongly condemns the suppression by the regime holding power in Belarus of all independent non-governmental organisations, the current campaign against the Union of Poles in Belarus, and the provocation of the diplomatic crisis with Poland.

( original signed by  )
Ivonka J. Survilla
President, Rada of the Belarusian
Democratic Republic in Exile