BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

12/02/2007

Belarusian Opposition Party Mulls National-Unity Option For Upcoming Rally

The Belarusian Popular Front (BNF) on February 10 discussed the political context of the opposition's rally scheduled in Minsk for March 25 to mark the anniversary of the shortlived 1918 Belarusian People's Republic, Belapan reported. "We view the present strategic situation as a new one," BNF leader Vintsuk Vyachorka said. "This concerns both the economy and the degree of unity among the present governing elite and the position of Belarus in the international arena. All problems that are felt in these spheres are, on the one hand, a threat to the independence of Belarus and, on the other hand, a chance for pro-democratic forces." The BNF resolved that the upcoming demonstration will be an opportunity for Belarus's pro-democratic forces to manifest national unity around the idea of independence. Simultaneously, the BNF sees the demonstration as an opportunity for the present authorities to show their readiness to make some steps toward democratization and, therefore, toward receiving aid from the European Union. Last week, former opposition presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich appealed to President Lukashenka to join the opposition in celebrating the anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic on March 25 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," February 8, 2007). JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/02/3-cee/cee-120207.asp