Ivonka Survilla Reelected President of BNR Rada
The 27th session of the Rada (Council) of the Belarusian National Republic (BNR) took place in London on April 17, 2010. The session was held in the assembly hall of the Association of Belarusians of the United Kingdom
The participants of the session held a minute’s silence in memory of victims of the plane crash near Smalensk, including Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and last president of Poland’s government in exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski.
Reports of the Rada and the leadership of Rada’s sectors were heard. Special attention was devoted to assistance of educational and cultural activity in Belarus, promoting national consciousness. The session participants considered a plan of actions for the nearest time and prospects for cooperation with politicians of the US, Canada, and European countries, representatives of international organizations, according to Radio Svaboda.
A resolution condemning construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus was also adopted.
The elections were held in accordance with the organization’s charter. Ms. Ivonka Survilla was reelected president of the BNR Rada.
The assembly hall of the Association of Belarusians of the United Kingdom was re-opened recently in London after reconstruction.
The hall is located in the legendary Belarusian house on Penn Road (in northern part of London). It was the first house bought by the Belarusian diaspora in 1948. It was the first official property of the Belarusian diaspora in the West, temporary home of many Belarusian emigrants. The editorial office of “Belarus na Chuzhyne” ( Belarusian Abroad) was located in the house.
The event on April 17 was attended by numerous guests, representatives of Belarusian diasporas from many countries, including BNR Rada President Ivonka Survilla.
Representatives of the Belarusian diaspora in Latvia, the US and members of the Belarusian minority in Poland welcomed the gathered guests. Welcome addresses of Belarusian organizations from various countries of the world were also read. The session was also attended by the former UK ambassador to Belarus Brian Bennettand the prominent British Belarusian studies’ expert Jim Dingly.
A book by Natallya Hardzienka entitled Belarusians in Great Britain was presented at the session.
The book describes the past and current life of the Belarusian diaspora in the UK, and activities of Belarusian organizations in Great Britain.
This article appeared in
Belarusian Review, Vol. 22, No. 2
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Source: Charter97 Press Center, April 18, 2010
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