BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/09/2008

Poles in Belarus mistrust Warsaw government?

The Union of Poles in Belarus has rejected the Polish Foreign Ministry's suggestion of engaging in negotiations with the Association of Poles in Belarus, officially recognised by President Lukashenko's regime.

The Supreme Council of the Union of Poles in Belarus, chaired by Andzelika Borys (photo), decided on Saturday - contrary to recommendations from the Foreign Ministry of Poland - against entering negotiations with the Association of Poles in Belarus, officially endorsed by Minsk as the only organisation representing the Polish minority in that country.

Representatives of the independent Union of Poles said they would only discuss the situation of their organisation directly with the Belarus authorities, and not via an organisation whose "members collaborated with the Belarus security services, slandered Poland and did not represent anyone".

Union members ignored the arguments used by the Polish Ambassador to Minsk, Henryk Litwin, that a meeting between the two organisations could "help normalise the situation of Poles living in Belarus".

On Friday, the Rzeczpospolita newspaper accused the Polish Foreign Ministry of wanting to cut a deal with the Belarus President Lukashenka who would like to see the current Chairwoman of the independent Union of Poles, Andzelika Borys replaced.

Both the Foreign Ministry and Borys have denied the allegations.

The conflict around the Union of Poles in Belarus began in March 2005, when Andzelika Borys was appointed Chairwoman against Minsk's will. As a result, the Belarus regime established the official "puppet" counterpart, the Association of Poles in Belarus, chaired by Jozef Lucznik.

Source:

http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/foreign-affairs/?id=91942

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