“Dear colleagues,
Dear friends of Belarus,
It’s an honor to greet you all here, at this truly unique event – where Belarusian political parties meet European counterparts.
We might have different political views, ideologies, but we all share the same values and the same vision – prosperous and democratic Europe. Europe that includes Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine.
This meeting also sends a powerful message to all those who suffer in the regime’s prison cells, including members of banned Belarusian political parties: you are not alone. Your European comrades and colleagues remember you and care about you.
In Belarus, the fight for democracy, unites representatives of all political parties: centrist, left or right.
We all understand that without democracy, there is no sense to discuss political differences. First, we have to dismantle the criminal regime, and only then we will be debating in democratic Parliament about policies. Not the vice versa.
We all understand, that Belarus can be truly free and independent only within the European Union. I know it will take time. But we can prepare for this already now.
As EU discuss the accession of Moldova and Ukraine, it’s the perfect time to discuss the European perspective for Belarus too. And I hope this will be the part of your conversation today.
Because without democratic Belarus, as well as without Ukraine, Europe will never be safe. And European project will never be complete.
We believe in European Union from Lisbon to Vitebsk, Luhansk, Tbilisi and Chisinau.
I also ask you to discuss today how to bring Lukashenka’s regime to account. For crimes against humanity. For abduction of Ukrainian children. For crime of aggression.
In contrast to governments, Parliamentarians can call things by their name. Lukashenka is a criminal, not the President. Belarusians are not the regime. And Belarus is not Russia.
I’m grateful to my dear friend Roberta Metsola for her full-hearted support of our cause and for this opportunity to hold the forum at the European Parliament.
I greet all the long-time friends of democratic Belarus – Petras Auštrevicius, Anna Fotyga, Andrzej Halicki, Andrius Kubilius, Miriam Lexmann, Juozas Olekas, Viola Von Cramon and others.
But I’m also very excited about so many new participants. It’s a good sign. The support for democratic Belarus is widening and growing stronger.
Thank you all very much. Long Live Europe! Long Live Belarus!”
