Belarusian Popular Front "Adradzennie" and the Party of BPF, 15.09.2001

The First Post-Election Session of the BPF Sojm

A session of the Sojms (Councils) of the Belarusian Popular Front "Adradzennie" and of the BPF Party – the first after the elections – convened on September 14.

The primary task of the BPF was to consider how to surmount a certain disappointment and fatigue amongst the activists of the BPF and of the whole democratic movement, as well as to determine the directions for their efforts in the immediate future. A consensus was reached on the need to inform every person in the country about the scale, methods, and geography of the electoral falsifications. The Sojm noted that the democratic forces needed to achieve the international non-recognition of the elections.

As one concrete step, it was decided to preserve the format of the broad civic coalition. Sojm members also urged that the format of the coalition should be in accord with the main programme goals and tasks of the BPF.

"The middle-term direction of our work follows directly from our programme task: we are the only political force that puts the struggle for Belarus's independence as the main demand in its programme. For this reason our informational work among the population is directed first of all at the defence of the pro-independence ideals. We intend to communicate with our people in terms which are understandable to literally everyone. We are going to conduct a 'negative campaigning': to tell the people the truth about why they live so poorly" – stated Mr Vincuk Viacorka [the BPF Chairman].

Other general points made at the Sojm included a recognition that the [presidential] campaign had revealed who is who at the political scene in Belarus, i.e. which political organisations possessed real political capacity, and which had only a declarative one. The Sojm members were convinced that the future coalition of democratic forces should therefore be shaped in accordance with the real capacity [of the parties]. There were many statements at the Sojm concerning the mistakes and misjudgements of the democratic forces during the election campaign. Many reasons were advanced, including the delay in deciding on the single candidate, personal problems with certain candidates, too much hope placed in the nomenklatura which did not come up to expectations and was unable to influence the existing "vertical" [administration].

The Sojm resolved to convene the ordinary Congress of the BPF Party and the BPF "Adradzennie" on December 15-16, which will revise the BPF's Programme.

The Sojm of the BPF "Adradzennie" adopted the following resolutions on the large-scale falsifications of the September 9 elections, and the terrorist acts in the USA.

Statement by the Civic Organisation the BPF "Adradzennie."

Large-scale falsifications of the expression of the people's will took place in Belarus on September 9. Not a single one of the four OSCE conditions for democratic elections was fulfilled. The presidential elections of 2001 cannot be accepted as legitimate. Hence, a regime of usurpation still prevails. New elections ought to be called on the basis of the OSCE criteria. We express our indignation at the support provided to Lukashenka and the pseudo-elections by the government of the Russian Federation and call on the international community to refuse recognition of the results of the pseudo-elections, as being undemocratic and falsified.

An Appeal by the Sojm of the Civic Organisation the BPF "Adradzennie."

On September 11, the whole world was shocked by what happened in New York and Washington. A terrorist act took lives of thousands of the United States citizens on that day.

The events in the US had a very painful impact in Belarus, especially amongst the part of its public which associates itself with the ideals of democracy.

The BPF "Adradzennie" absolutely condemns the actions of those who, for their purposes, are prepared to sacrifice lives of innocent people.

The BPF expresses its condolences to the relatives and friends of those who died in these terrorist acts, and to the whole American people. The BPF "Adradzennie" believes that the tactics of terror are unacceptable in the modern civilised world.