Iryna Sukhij: Situation with the Forum is very distressing

The organizing committee of the Forum of Environmental Organizations is surprised and disappointed with the refusal of Polatsk local authorities to coordinate the conduct of this event.

This news to the EuroBelarus Information Service reported Iryna Sukhij, the chairperson of the board of Public Association “Eco House”. She described this situation as “extremely unpleasant”.

“We didn’t have any problems when speaking with the local authorities. And suddenly, this week, we got to know that the library refused to provide us with accommodation as the question is not coordinated with the local authorities; the hotel where the participants should be staying the sewage was breached, and sanitary-hygienic inspection closed the restaurant where the participants of the Forum should be having their meals”, - the ecologist said.

Iryna Sukhij recalled that the Forum of Environmental Organizations has already been taking place in Belarus several times, and then a break in seven years followed.

“It is the Forum where all Belarusan ecological organizations, lots of ecological activists and officials are present. This year, when all the participants got their invitations and bought the tickets, we had to refer it to October for technical reasons”, - noted the chairperson of “Eco House”.

She explained the transfer of the event with the sensible possibility to invite guests next time, as it is impossible to do again during the summer. “September is very busy month, too, so it is logical to conduct the event in October”, - stated the ecologist.