Civil society of Belarus has formed a "response group"

The Steering Committee of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum has formed a "response group", authorized to conduct a dialogue with various political actors. 

The group consists of: the head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski, co-chairman of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum UladVialichka, a methodologist, a councilman of the International Consortium "EUROBELARUS" Uladzimir Matskevich and the chairman of the Assembly of non-governmental democratic organizations Siargei Matskevich.

"The response group" was formed to make the decisions on current issues relating to civil society engagement in political life of the country. The representation group of the third sector is considering the possibility of starting the negotiations with the government as to achieve national consensus, but not before the release of all the political prisoners in the country. Moreover, such negotiations can be conducted the "response group" it being collected only in full. Namely, when Ales Bialiatski arrested on August the 4^th 2011, will be able to participate in this group work. Civil society representatives, nominated by the Steering Committee of the National Platform of the EaP CSF, intend to resist the negotiation process imitation, which may occur in Belarus.

As explained by Ulad Vialichka, Alexander Lukashenko's statement that he was not going to negotiate with the opposition, is not going to affect the aims and objectives of the group.

"The idea of dialogue had been voiced by civil society representatives long before it was announced by Lukashenko. After the authorities have voiced the idea of a "round table" and after their subsequent comments on no intention to talk with the "opposition", nothing has changed in the country. Political prisoners have still remained in custody, there haven’t been done any constructive steps towards civil society and democratic opposition from the authorities’ part. That’s why the real dialogue, not a simulation of such, is still a necessary, time demanded process, required by Belarusian society. And our group’s work is needed as to develop a coordinated action plan with the other participants of the political process", commented upon by Ulad Vialichka.


Information service of "EUROBELARUS"