News & Events in Belarus

Foreign diplomats briefed on Belarus’ policy on national communities

MINSK, 17 March (BelTA) – Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities Leonid Gulyako met with heads and representatives of diplomatic missions of the European Union countries in Belarus on 17 March. The meeting took place following a request of the UK embassy, which acted on behalf of Spain, the EU presiding country in H1 2010, representatives of the Office of the Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities told BelTA.

During the meeting Leonid Gulyako informed the diplomats about the policy the Belarusian government pursues with regard to national communities and their legal status. The discussion touched upon the situation around the public association Union of Poles in Belarus, the role and views of the Belarusian government in settling down the conflict inside the Polish national community, legal implementation of the right to use premises for cultic goals by the New Life Church, elections to local councils of deputies in Belarus, and statistic information.

The Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities gave detailed answers to the questions the diplomats asked, cited examples and facts. Participants of the meeting received a reference book Belarus the Multinational. Compiled with assistance of the OSCE Office in Minsk, the book covers the national communities that live in Belarus.

The diplomats were informed that the government does not interfere with internal affairs of the national communities inside the country unless the dispute is of legal nature. All the disputes regarding the ownership of UPB property had been considered by courts according to established procedures. Houses of Poles are and will be owned by the Union of Poles in Belarus and the government does not encroach on the property.

Leonid Gulyako was bewildered by Poland’s selectiveness in relations with the Poles that live in Belarus, in particular, the impairment of the right to free entry to Poland for UPB members, the ignoring of UPB President Stanislav Semashko in favor of Andzelika Borys’s non-existing organization, evaluation of her statements as views of all the Poles in Belarus.

The meeting was productive. At the end UK Ambassador to Belarus Rosemary Thomas thanked Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities Leonid Gulyako for the promptly arranged meeting, informative exchange of opinions and answers to all the questions.

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