Minister Radosław Sikorski meets with Belarusian opposition

The situation of independent communities in Belarus and their plans to organise a “people’s referendum” were discussed by Minister Radosław Sikorski and members of the Belarusian opposition on 9 September in Warsaw.

The meeting was attended by Uladzimir Nieklajeu, a candidate in the 2010 presidential elections, who was later imprisoned by the Belarusian authorities, Aliaksandr Milinkiewicz, leader of “For Freedom” movement and the opposition’s presidential candidate in 2006, Alaksiej Janukievich, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, and Irina Veshtard, chairwoman of the “Gramada” party^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland reports.

The guests from Belarus spoke to Minister Sikorski about their plan to organise a referendum around the idea of economic and social reforms in Belarus. “Signatures for the referendum are being collected. We want to get the idea of this referendum across to a new majority. Those people in Belarus who are in favour of reforms, but still do not support the opposition,” said the leader of the “Tell the Truth” campaign, Uladzimir Nieklajeu.

Through Minister Sikorski, leaders of the opposition groups have thanked Poland and the Polish people for supporting the civil society in Belarus. The minister assured them that supporting democracy and pro-European tendencies in Poland’s eastern neighbourhood will remain our priority. The meeting also focused on the European Union’s policy toward Belarus, especially before the upcoming Vilnius Summit of the EU’s Eastern Partnership, of which Belarus is a member.