Vital Rymasheuski Meets With Angela Merkel

The BCD Co-Chairman held a number of meetings within the framework of the European People’s Party Congress.

Co-Сhairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Vital Rymasheuski made a speech at the summit of the leaders of the European People's Party, and told about the situation in Belarus. In his speech, he particularly stressed that the EU’s openness to Belarus is very important today, the press-center of the BCD informs.

“However, if we talk about what is happening in Belarus after the lifting of EU sanctions, we can say one thing: we face new forms of repression and a new attack on freedom of speech and human rights. Unfortunately, the Belarusian authorities often regard the EU’s openness as a weakness. For the last year, two independent websites were closed, security forces attacked Belarusian online media: tut.by and Belapan. Until now, we have not seen such large-scale repression against freedom of media and the Internet in Belarus. Nine journalists are under criminal persecution. The authorities are trying to destroy independent media that are most effective in the fight against the Russian propaganda. Therefore, when we talk about protection of independent media, we also have in mind the protection of Belarus' independence from hybrid threats,” he said.

Also, the BCD Co-Chair called for reformatting the dialogue with Belarus in order to put the reform of the electoral legislation and the law enforcement system in the first place on the agenda.

The summit also discussed the prospects of Belarus in relations with the EU and the hybrid threat from the Russian Federation, the “BelTA case,” and other issues with the violation of human rights.

In addition, in an informal atmosphere, Vital Rymasheuski spoke personally with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the persecution of journalists in Belarus and Christian democracy in Europe. “Her sincerity and openness are always striking. I am convinced that she will not remain indifferent. In the EPP family there are parties from all over Europe. There are many different challenges, each region has its own, but the EPP is a united political family and it’s easier to deal with these problems together, with solidarity. The EPP Summit is a rare time when the leaders of Europe gather at the same table,” the Co-Chair of the BCD noted.

President of the EPP Joseph Daul, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, President of Romania Iohannis Klaus, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Austria Sebastian Kurz, Prime Minister of Germany Angela Merkel, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar, Deputy Prime Minister of Latvia Arvils Aseradens, Deputy Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Kris Peeters and others, partook in the session.

On November 7, the EPP Congress adopted a resolution on Belarus.