THE NETHERLANDS
February 24, 2004, Amsterdam
A demonstration of solidarity with Belarusian opposition was carried out by activists of the Amnesty International in Amsterdam. The protest action was held on the Amsterdam University campus. Stands with portraits of the "disappeared" and logos of the youth resistance movement Zubr stood in the University hall. Human rights activists urged students to sign appeal to Alyaksandar Lukashenka with the demand to stop persistent violations of International Convention on civil and political rights. They paid special attention to violations of Articles 19, 21 and 22, where the freedom of expression and peech, right of peaceful assembly and associations, including trade unions, are proclaimed. Besides, the students and professors were given information materials on human rights violations in Belarus, and about abducted politicians in particular.
Source: Charter'97 Press Center, February 26, 2004
UNITED STATES
March 7, 2004, Philadelphia
A demonstration of solidarity with Baranavicy members of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, who decided to join the oppositional youth movement Zubr, took place in the center of Philadelphia. The action was organizd by the American Association of Eastern European Students. About 20 people, for the most part former students from Belarus wanted to express their support to a courageous deed of Baranavicy students.
Source:Charter'97 Press Center, March 8, 2004
CZECH REPUBLIC
March 16, 2004
Five representatives of Belarus' democratic opposition visited the city halls in Czech cities of Pardubice, Olomouc, Uherske Hradiste and Neratovice. The purpose of their brief internship period was to gain information on the functioning of municipal self-government units in the Czech Republic.
The visitors expressed hope that experiences and knowledge, acquired here, will be useful in Belarus in the future, after democratic reforms are implemented.
March 20, 2004, Prague
The Senate of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the Czech TV foundation People in Need and the Association for International Affairs held an international informative conference entitled:
Belarus - Our New Common Neighbor.
It was attended by members of the European Parliament and parliamentarians from present EU member states, from states soon to join the Union, as well as by representatives of Eastern European and Belarusian NGOs.
The opening speeches were delivered by:
Sen. Jan Ruml, Vice President of Senate of Czech Republic
Ms. Ivonka Survilla, President of the Council (Rada) of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (read the full text of her speech on p. 30 )
Mr. Vaclav Havel, former President of Czech Republic .
In the morning session, entitled "Belarus between East and West," following speakers took the floor:
Mr. Ales Janukevic - deputy chairman of the party of the Belarusian Popular Front, Mr. Petr Mares - deputy prime minister of Czech Republic, Mr. Bogdan Klich - president of the Institute for strategic studies, Mr. Jonas Cekuolis - head of Lithuania's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Mr. Ivars Pundurs - Latvia's Undersecretary of State, and Mr. Jan Marius Wiersma - chairman of the European Parliament's delegation for Relations with Belarus.
The afternoon session was entitled "Enlarged EU - Enlarged Posibilities of supporting pro-democratic forces in Belarus." Following speakers took part in the discussions:
Ms. Iryna Vidanava - editor-in-chief of Studenckaja Dumka, Belarus, Mr. Ales Michalevic - co-chairman of the Association of Local Democratic Deputies, Belarus, Mr. Pawel Kazanecki - president of the East European Democratic Centre, Poland, and Mr. Pavol Demes - representing the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
March 27, 2004, Prague
The Belarusian community in the Czech Republic gathered in Prague to celebrate the Freedom Day - the 86th anniversary of the proclamation of independence by the Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR)
.
The observance was held in the Mirror Chapel of the National Library, situated in the Klementinum - a beautiful ancient architectural complex in the city of Prague.
The gathering was addressed by the visiting President of BNR Rada (Council ) Ivonka Survilla, and by invited guestss: writer Uladzimier Arlou from Belarus, Mr. Chviedar Niunka, president of the Belarusian cultural assocation in Vilnia (Lithuania) and Mr. Michas Luzynski, representing the Belarusian diaspora in Australia.
Many Belarusians from Germany, Belgium, Austria and Poland also attended.
This article appeared in
Belarusian Review, Vol. 16, No 1
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20 april 2004
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