Tadeusz Gawin: We Have Common Goals With Charter'97

Why did the Belarusian Poles support the creation of the Charter'97 initiative?

November marks 20 years since the proclamation of the Charter'97 civil initiative. On November 10, 1997, there was published a document that became the starting point in the history of the initiative. About 100 most famous country’s politicians, public and cultural figures, journalists signed under the text first. Later, the document was signed by more than 100 000 citizens of Belarus.

Charter97.org continues publishing interviews with people who created Charter'97 20 years ago. Tadeusz Gawin, the adviser of the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus of the 13th convocation on interethnic relations, the former chairman of the Union of Poles in Belarus, has answered our questions:

– You were one of the first to sign the Charter'97civil initiative. Why did you find this document so important?

– Indeed, I was among the first signatories of this document. I was attracted by the goals and tasks set by the Charter'97civil initiative, the people who had created it.

Charter'97 can be proud of 20 years of good work for the benefit of free Belarus.

– At that time, you were the chairman of the Union of Poles in Belarus. Did you consider that the Charter'97 values and ideals overlap with the interests of the Polish diaspora in Belarus?

– That's right. Our Union’s goals found an echo in Charter'97. Signing the document, I was sure that the initiative would support the demands put forward by the Union of Poles in Belarus. And at that time (as well as at the moment), the rights and freedoms of the Poles of Belarus were infringed in every possible way.

It all started in 1995, when the authorities began to eradicate any initiative and dissent. There appeared various obstacles in the development of Polish-language education. There were constant attempts to interfere with the cultural activities of the Union, obstacles and intrigues were created at every step.

I am absolutely sure that if Charter'97 had reached its goals in full, the Polish diaspora in Belarus would not face the problems that it has to deal with now. Charter'97 fought and fights for democracy, giving priority to human rights and the rights of national minorities.