BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

31/01/2008

Belarusian Intellectuals Establish Institute Of National Remembrance

Over 50 Belarusian intellectuals on January 29 took part in a meeting to establish an organizing committee for an association called the Institute of National Remembrance (INP), Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. The gathering adopted a declaration that provides for researching the issues of the Belarusian nation and its achievements from ancient times to the present day. Writer Vasil Yakavenka, who was elected as one of several committee co-chairmen, said that the INP intends to "inhibit the dissolution of civil society and national culture in the country." Another committee co-chairman, playwright Ales Petrashkevich, said that the INP's goal is to "return historic memory to the Belarusians, who have been forced for centuries to renounce their roots." "This should be a reply to those who suppress the truth about our national history and consciously publish lies, which find their way into history textbooks," he added. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/01/3-cee/cee-310108.asp