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Open letter
To A.V. Loukashenko, President
of the Republic Belarus
With the feeling of
bewilderment and regret I followed your presentation at the
Republican teleconference on the Harvesting campaign. It was
not a feeling of regret about myself. I have always maintained
that the lack of respect to other people and rudeness are by
far not the best individual faculties They do not do credit to
nobody, to say nothing of Head of the Nation.
I leave aside the question why
you are making use of biased information. I would only like to
remind you that I have not recently visited the USA and have
not insisted that the Republic Belarus be deprived of
preferences. On the contrary, many times, starting with 1997,
I appealed to the American Labor Unions, the US Administration,
and the International Labor Organization, asking them to
abstain from economic sanctions against the Republic,
realizing clearly, that such measures may only worsen the life
of common people. I believe you know that I have never sought
easy ways: let our people judge how well I have worked. I was
elected Deputy not only of the BSSR and the USSR Supreme
Soviets, but also Deputy of the Supreme Council of the
Republic Belarus of the 13-th Convocation. You have a chance
to prove that you are able to correct the mistake. Please, do
apologize.
Now about the Trade Union
Federation’s and my personal standpoints. It is true that
the Federation comes out in support of adjusting the course of
social and economic reforms and seconds creating normal
economic environment, including that in the rural areas; it
favors better performance of domestic manufacturers, cutting
down unjustified Budgetary expenditures, new jobs creation,
and a reform of the remuneration system. It is common
knowledge that the value of labor is now deteriorating, and
nearly half of our population are poverty stricken, hardly
managing to make both ends meet. To pretend that everything is
running smoothly means to shut one’s eyes to the real
situation. The Trade Unions have repeatedly submitted their
specific proposals to relevant agencies, including the
Presidential Administration of the Republic of Belarus.
It is true that we are opposing
the Governmental interference into the legitimate and
constitutional activity of Trade Unions which is exceptionally
apparent in the course of election campaigns, violating the
Constitution and Legislation of the Republic, and your
Presidential Decrees related to social partnership. We are
once again reaffirming our stance: it is critical now to
establish a constructive dialog between trade unions and civil
and economic administrations in order to seek solutions of the
social and economic issues that make a public concern. We are
supporting strict adherence to the principles of building a
democratic and social law-guided society in Belarus.
While appealing to you,
Guarantor of the Republic Belarus, in accordance with Article
28 of the Constitution of the Republic Belarus, I insist that
you give orders to put an end to the ongoing campaign of
persecuting, threatening, and discrediting both Trade Unions
and myself.
Goncharik V.I.,,
Chairman, Federation of Trade
Unions, Belarus.
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