Mikalai Statkevich: BNC Representatives Ready To Meet John Bolton

The U.S. High Representative must know what is really going on in Belarus.

The U.S. edition of Foreign Policy reported that U.S. presidential advisor on national security John Bolton would visit Belarus soon - possibly this week.

Mikalai Statkevich, leader of the Belarusian National Congress, the BNC presidential candidate, has commented on the visit of the high-ranking U.S. representative to our country for Charter97.org.

- How would you comment on John Bolton's visit to Belarus?

- This is a very important and significant event for our country, which indicates that the new administration of the U.S. President has finally understood the importance of Belarus for the security in our region.

What we and our neighbors have long understood is now understood in Washington. And this is a very positive signal for us.

With this visit the U.S. gives us a signal of its interest in the independence of Belarus. Our country is indeed a key point in the region: there are several tens of kilometers from our border to the capital of Lithuania, no more than two hundred kilometers to the capitals of Ukraine and Poland, and about 700 kilometers to the capital of Russia.

The threat from the territory of this region can change the situation not only in Europe, but also in the world. And it is good that the new U.S. administration has realized this and goes further than the previous administrations, sending a representative of such a high level to Belarus in order to take in the situation.

To take in how the Belarusian regime can (or cannot) "protect the independence" of Belarus.

As this Lukashenka's "protection" looks somehow strange. We all know how the countries defend their independence.

They increase the level of economic independence and carry out economic reforms for this purpose. They seek mutual understanding with society and conduct an open dialogue, which includes fair elections. They strengthen the national identity, foster patriotism in society and rely on patriots.

We all know that everything is done exactly the opposite in Belarus. Our dependence on Russia is only growing. Instead of searching for some kind of mutual understanding, the Lukashenka regime is suppressing the society. Instead of strengthening the national identity, the process of destruction of the Belarusian language and school education in it continues. And what about patriotism? It is enough to remember the "patriots' case" when more than 30 people, not even related to politics, but just engaged in patriotic education of young people, were arrested.

So I think Mr. Bolton will be interested to find out how Lukashenka "protects" the independence of Belarus in reality.

- Are you ready to meet with John Bolton?

- The Belarusian National Congress, which is the vanguard of the struggle against the dictatorship for freedom and independence of our country, would like to express its position to U.S. presidential advisor John Bolton.

Therefore, on behalf of the BNC and my Belarusian National Congress colleagues, I have sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy with a request to organize such a meeting.

Hennadz Fiadynich, the leader of the REP trade union, is the first person on the list of the BNC delegation, who will meet with John Bolton. The fact that the leader of the independent trade union is serving the sentence at the place of residence, being persecuted by the authorities, is the most eloquent confirmation of our words about the real situation with "democracy" in Belarus.

I can also say about myself: I have always defended the law and the Constitution in Belarus. I have served more than eight years in the detention facilities of the regime for my convictions. But Lukashenka is still afraid of me, that is why I was banned from participating in any elections.

I would like a high representative of such a leading world power to receive information about what is happening in Belarus from all sides. And we, BNC representatives, are ready to meet with John Bolton and tell him about our position.

- What do you think the opposition should convey to the high-ranking US official?

- First, Lukashenka is not a guarantor of Belarus' independence. He is interested in maintaining a certain level of dependence on Russia. He is now "bargaining" with Moscow in order to preserve this dependence in exchange for subsidies for his regime.

Our independence can be saved only by our society. Here two variants are possible. The first one is that the West forces the authorities to establish a dialogue with the society, to take joint measures to protect independence. The second one is that the Belarusian people remove the dictator who has put the country on edge, independently. We are ready for a real dialogue with the authorities, but they have less and less time left.

Changes will take place in Belarus in any case, they are inevitable. No one's subsidies will save Lukashenka, the Belarusians hate the dictator. We are talking only about how these changes will happen.

I hope that during the visit to Minsk, the U.S. High Representative will be at height of his mission. His country has long been the world's leading democracy, a leader in the fight for freedom of other peoples. As a result of this position, America has always had enormous moral authority for millions of people.

The Belarusians have always had a sympathy towards the USA.

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