Press-release of Belarusian participants of the National platform of the EaP CSF
16.11.2010 | Publications
Press release
of the participants of the National platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on the results of participation in the conference on discussion of CIVICUS research results
We, the participants of the National platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society forum:
2. Proceed from the fact that there are already thematic NGO networks, platforms and associations in Belarus. That is why we see the process of creation of the places for dialogue within the Scandinavian model, which is based on negotiating and establishing relations with existing networks and platforms, and assisting these platforms in obtaining the legal status which is difficult in conditions of freedom of association restriction.
3. Suppose that a platform for the dialogue between civil society and the state and for any other dialogue (including the dialogue within civil society) can only be the platforms (and the processes of their formation) which initially and indispensably include alternative positions, proposals, and approaches, and suggest communicative and procedure decisions allowing to mitigate the stated contradictions or to compromise, with indispensible publicity of these processes. Absence of any of these elements – alternative positions, communicative procedures and publicity – nullifies any statements about creation of such platforms.
4. Consider the statement about the results of the Conference made by Yuri Zagoumennov in mass media on 15 November 2010 (in particular, the announcement of BelAPAN Belarusian information company) as deliberate lies not corresponding the reality and as speculation on trust of civil society organizations, which vitally need the dialogue with the authority. At the conference, no national platforms were created, which can be proved not only by all the participants but, in the first place, by the members of the Public Advisory Council at the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus who formed a part of the Advisory council of the project (V. Koryagin, V. Nistyuk, O. Goulak and others). By this action, Mr. Zagoumennov yet again proves his absolute disability to carry on the dialogue, and surely to claim for the role of the initiator of such dialogue. The announcement of Mr. Zagoumenov regarding the meeting of the EU Commissioner Mr. Štefan Füle with the representatives of the Public Advisory Council at the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus is an undisguised insult to all 50 civil society representatives participating at the meeting who in fact were invited by the European Commission for a wide consultation.
5. At the conference of 14 November, some of the participants expressed public distrust to Mr. Zagoumennov as the coordinator of the project under auspices of OSCE in cooperation with international organization CIVICUS. Both mentioned organizations in their responses to the inquiries of Belarusian civil society organizations asked to consider the actions of the project coordinator as his personal initiative not having anything in common with the position of these organizations.
Press office of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
Minsk, 15 November 2010
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03.01
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07.10
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22.09
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17.08
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12.08
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30.09
