Tuesday 19 March 2024 | 05:35

Address of the Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF on the future of Belsat TV channel

29.12.2016  |  Society   |  Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF,  
Address of the Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF on the future of Belsat TV channel

The Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum issued a statement on the future of Belsat TV channel.

Address

of the Coordination Committee
of the Belarusan National Platform
of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

“On the future of Belsat TV channel”

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Witold Waszczykowski

December 29, 2016

Dear Minister Waszczykowski,

Belarusan civil society organizations, united within the Belarusan National Platform for the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum are concerned about the future of the Belsat TV channel.

First of all, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Republic of Poland for the long-term political and financial support for the existence of the Belsat TV channel since 2007 as an independent television project, offering the Belarusan viewer information and judgements, free from the influence of representative government.

Thanks to the support of Poland, as well as the European Union and other partners who share the value of freedom of speech, Belsat TV channel was able to find its place and audience in Belarus in difficult conditions of lack of freedom of information and discrimination of independent media. It is also important to note that the vast majority of the actual television programs produced by Belsat are result of efforts of Belarusan journalists, as well as a wide range of experts, opinion leaders and just active citizens of our country invited to this process.

Over the past 9 years, the Belsat TV channel:

  • has become an important part of the independent media space in Belarus, despite the repeated denial of its official registration and the pressure on Belsat journalists for their professional activity from the Belarusan authorities;
  • has been shaped as an important mean of formation of the Belarusan identity on the basis of pro-European values;
  • has established itself as a constantly evolving project, capable of sincere reacting to the events taking place in the surrounding reality, as well as of the search for new forms and means of dialogue with the audience and the various stakeholders in the Belarusan society.

In this regard, we are extremely concerned about information, published in various media in Poland and Belarus, about the intention of the Polish government significantly cut funding for the Belsat TV channel and refuse to broadcast in Belarusan language. The presence of a small Belarus-speaking channel stimulating national and civic consciousness of many people in our country, seems much more correct response to the current challenges of information war, then the alternatives voiced in the media. Seriously discussed perspective of closing the channel may lead to even more negative effects, in particular substantial weakening resistance to the aggressive promotion of the ideology of “Russian Word” in Belarus.

Of course, the right to decide the future of the channel belongs to those who instituted and maintained it all these years — the Polish government and other international partners. At the same time, it would be wrong to underestimate the significant contribution to the existence of Belsat, made by the Belarusan stakeholders - experts, journalists, representatives of civil society organizations and cultural community of our country. In this context, we see it strange, improper and unjustified that the Belarusan partners are denied the right to have voice and are not invited to the discussion of the future of the Belsat TV channel.

Decisions of such type are of high importance for many actors in Belarus, they can greatly affect the domestic political context of the country. Civil society of Belarus is open and interested in discussing the future of the Belsat TV channel together with other stakeholders, and also expects better integration into this process a wide range of Belarusan partners.

Coordination Committee of the BNP of EaP CSF

Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum has been established in July 2010, and brings together on the basis of a pro-European values more than 80 organizations of various fields of activity.

Download text

Спампаваць тэкст

Скачать текст

Other news section «Society»

What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
The Belarus Committee of ICOMOS announces the collection of cases on the effectiveness of the State List of Historical and Cultural Values as a tool of the safeguarding the cultural monuments.
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
On March 27-28, the Belarus ICOMOS and the EuroBelarus held an online expert workshop on expanding opportunities for community participation in the governance of historical and cultural heritage.
“It is our big joint work”
“It is our big joint work”
It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The Forum was devoted not so much to the outputs as to the challenges and prospects after the creation and signing of local agendas.
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
In Stoubcy, they talked about universal design and conducted pilot monitoring of two urban sites accessibility.
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valożyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Ščučyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
Representatives of the campaign “Agenda 50” from five pilot cities discussed achievements in creating local agendas for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
On May 28, the city hosted a presentation of the results of the project "Equal to Equal" which was dedicated to monitoring the barrier-free environment in the city.
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination.
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
What results has the campaign "Agenda 50" given, what helps to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the regions?
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
Experts in Valožyn have determined that the quality of people’s life depends on their awareness.
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
On March 3, members of the campaign "Agenda 50" from different Belarusian cities met in Minsk. The campaign is aimed at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
There are being implemented three projects under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities campaign in the city of Babruysk.
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
In Stolin, social organizations and local authorities are implementing a project aimed at independent living of persons with disabilities, and creating local agenda for the district.
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.