On March 4, the “8+100” Cross-Party Forum took place in Brussels – a platform for cooperation between European political parties and the democratic forces of Belarus.
The event was organized by the European Parliament in cooperation with the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
The forum brought together eight Belarusian democratic parties – the United Civic Party, the Green Party, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), the BPF Party, the For Freedom Movement, the Belarusian Christian Democracy, A Country to Live In (the movement), the Our Party, and the Razam Party – as well as more than 100 European political parties that support the legitimate democratic forces of Belarus. They included the European People’s Party, Renew Europe, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, the Greens, and the Social Democrats.
The forum addressed two key strategic areas: coordination of EU policy toward Belarus and the country’s role in the future architecture of Euro-Atlantic security. Particular focus was placed on the situation within Belarus, the release of political prisoners, and efforts to counter the Kremlin’s hybrid aggression.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed participants with a video message:
«Dear friends,
It’s a great honor and pleasure – to welcome you at the 8+100 forum. This forum is the platform where Belarusian parties meet their European counterparts.
I want to thank the European Parliament, who made this event possible, especially my dear friends Roberta Metsola, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Andrzej Halicki. I have words of gratitude to each of you in this room – I’ll never stop saying THANK YOU. Thank you – for your strong belief in our fight, and the European future of our country.
I want to thank all the colleagues from the European Commission and External Action Service, present here – for your strong support for the Belarusian democratic movement. Never before, Belarus was so high on the EU’s agenda. This week, we’ll hold an EU-Belarus Consultative Group meeting – to discuss strategy and plans – another form of our brilliant cooperation.
When a few years ago, my advisor Anatol Liabedzka, came up with the idea of this forum, seven out of nine leaders of Belarusian political parties were imprisoned. But he said: we still must do it – for the future. To keep political parties alive. Because, one day, all will be free, and free elections will come – and we must be prepared.
A few years later, we finally saw Mikalai Kazlou from the United Citizens Party, Dzmitry Kuchuk from the Green Party, Christian Democrat Pavel Seviarynets, and recently Mikalai Statkevich from the Social Democratic Party, free. Mikalai Statkevich is home, with his wife now, but his health is in danger, he suffered a stroke in prison. Despite that, he immediately jumped back into public life, and made strong statements in support of Belarus independence.
We see that released party leaders are quickly coming back to political life. Mikalai Kazlou is nominated for a position in the United Transitional Cabinet. Dzmitry Kuchuk is already working as an Office advisor for ecology, and prepares events to commemorate this year’s Chernobyl’s anniversary. Pavel Seviarynets – was just elected the head of the Organizational committee to celebrate Belarus Freedom Day – which we’ll mark on March 25.
Political parties’ leaders have unique expertise, experience, and can be great contributors to our broader democratic movement. And I welcome that our parties have formed this platform – that will help us all in coordination.
Soon, the Coordination Council will hold elections, and I hope political parties will take an active part and be represented there as well, alongside other initiatives and civil society groups.
Dear friends,
We, as the democratic forces, don’t wait for changes to come. We are preparing them and bringing them closer.
Today, looking at Venezuela, Syria, or Iran, we learn that no dictatorship is forever. We Belarusians are a normal, peaceful European nation, who want and deserve to live in a normal country: prosperous, democratic and predictable. And most importantly – European.
Belarusians don’t want to be a threat to their neighbours. Belarusians are against the war in Ukraine. They don’t want to be part of Russia and to die for the interests of the empire. And once the window of opportunities is open, Belarusians will prove what their values really are, once again.
Belarusians deserve to have a normal political life, as people in any other democratic country. And we have the grounds for it already. We have all the standard Western political parties that will continue their work in Belarus, once democracy is restored.
We have to strengthen our society, and the democratic alternative. We continue strengthening the infrastructure and subjectivity of our democratic forces. Our movement is open to everyone who shares the same goals and values. And I see our political parties as a key element of our movement.
Today, I ask our European colleagues to engage Belarusian parties in your work, but also to share your expertise with them. I am glad that Belarusian parties already cooperate with international party organizations — like the European People’s Party (EPP), the Conservatives and Reformists, Renew Europe, the Greens, or the Social Democrats.
Also, I want to thank European political families for inviting me to your forums and congresses. This helped us to keep the Belarusian topic alive, but also to build important alliances and make new friends. Next week, I plan to attend the 50th anniversary of EPP – congratulations on that.
Dear friends,
I am so glad that the topic of Belarus – same as Ukraine – unites Europe. No matter, left or right, – we all share the same values and vision of Europe.
Europe that is free, that is peaceful, and prosperous. And we all want Belarus to be part of this Europe.
Thank you,
Long live Europe, Zhyve Belarus!»
