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On State Policy of the Republic of Belarus in the Sphere of
Interethnic Relations
Specifics of the Developments Around the «Union of Poles in
Belarus»
According to the 1999 census, one fifth of the Belarusian population
consists of 130 nationalities, including Russians (11 %), Poles (3.9 %),
Ukrainians (2.4 %), Jews (0.3 %), as well as Armenians, Tatars, Roma,
Lithuanians, Azerbaijanis, Moldavians, Germans, Georgians and others. Each
and every nationality makes a constituent and competent part of the people
of Belarus, they enjoy legally ensured rights to preserve and develop their
native language, culture, customs and traditions. At the same time, they
keep a high profile in the social structure, economy, politics, and culture
of the Belarusian society.
Maintaining sustainable inter-religious and inter-ethnic peace is what the
Belarusian state can pride itself on. The Belarusian national policy in
inter-ethnic relations and safeguarding the rights of those identifying
themselves as a national minority is clearly and unambiguously formulated in
the Constitution and the Concept of National Security of the Republic of
Belarus (where this policy is determined as one of the state priorities) as
well as in 35 international treaties, the Law on National Minorities in the
Republic of Belarus, in some other Belarusian laws.
In
particular, Article 15 of the Constitution says that "the State shall bear
responsibility for preserving the historic, cultural and spiritual heritage,
and the free development of the cultures of all the ethnic communities that
live in the Republic of Belarus ".
The state policy provides all nationalities with equality before the law, as
well as equal protection of their rights and legal interests. Dishonour of
national dignity is persecuted by law. Everyone is entitled to freely use
their native language, and to choose their language of communication and
education. Likewise, equality of national communities, which is ensured
legally, implies that they all enjoy their rights regardless of how long
they live in Belarus.
As
per foreign experts' conclusions, the Belarusian legislation on ensuring
national minorities rights generally meets international standards. For
instance, the unique inter-ethnic nature of the Belarusian society and the
current model of its conflict-free functioning are recognized, the evidence
of which are findings of the CoE «Education Policy for Minorities» project
(2003-2004), and the outcome of the consideration of the joint 15th, 16th
and 17th Regular Reports of the Republic of Belarus on implementation of the
UN Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination over
the period of 1997-2003 (65th Meeting of the UN Committee on the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination, 2004).
In
1997 the State Committee on Religions and Nationalities under the Council of
Ministers of the Republic of Belarus was created to monitor the observance
of Belarusian legislation on national minorities rights.
The Committee in cooperation with other Government bodies (in particular,
with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education) also plays an
important role in the prevention of possible conflicts on national ground.
Jointly with the OSCE Office in Minsk, the Committee has issued an
illustrated publication «Multinational Belarus» reflecting history, culture,
traditions of nationalities living in Belarus that created public
associations. The publication presented in June 2005 has been highly
appreciated by the Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk, Mr E. Heyken.
To
assist the development of relations between public associations and their
historical homeland, the Committee cooperates with similar state-run bodies
in Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. Measures to expand such
cooperation are being stepped up with other countries.
In
education, national minorities have much opportunity to substantially meet
their needs in protecting national identity.
Thus, the system of schooling offers an opportunity to start learning
languages of national communities in crèches. In 2004/2005 school year in
188 secondary schools about 9,000 children have studied languages of the
national communities in different organizational form (among these languages
are Hebrew, Polish, Lithuanian, New Greek, Ukrainian and others).
Furthermore, public associations of national minorities have established 65
Sunday schools where 4,800 people (Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Afghans,
Georgians, Greeks, Jews, Koreans, Lithuanians, Latvians, Moldavians,
Germans, Poles, Tatars, Ukrainians) study native language, history and
culture.
The Ministry of Education renders methodological assistance for educational
process in national communities. Handbooks on the Polish language and
literature for primary school were edited, from Lithuania translated
handbooks on natural sciences and mathematics for Lithuanian classes are
received.
Jointly with the National Institute of Education, the Committee on Religions
and Nationalities edited a publication on the school experience «We learn to
live together» on the development of inter-ethnic confidence at school and
in the society. This publication is recommended as a schoolbook. The
textbook for senior school «History and culture of national communities in
the Republic of Belarus» has been prepared.
As
of 1 August 2005, 124 public associations of 25 national minorities were
registered in Belarus. The Union of Poles in Belarus (UPB) is the largest
public association with 75 registered primary organizations as well as 17
«Polish Houses».
All registered associations have accumulated significant experience of
diverse cultural, educational, informational and charitable activities. This
is particularly evident in the framework of the biannual Belarusian Festival
of national cultures in Hrodna. In 2004, 25 nationalities were represented
at the Festival.
A
number of public associations of national minorities have their printing
outlets. There are, for instance, 12 newspapers and magazines in Polish. For
the first time in their history, Belarusian Roma started to publish their
newspapers.
According to the 1999 census, 396,000 Poles live in Belarus, forming the
third, in number, ethnic group in the country after Belarusians and
Russians. A majority of Poles live in the Western regions of Belarus
(294,000 – in Hrodna region).
In
October 1990 public associations from the Polish minority established the
Union of Poles in Belarus (UPB). The main goal of the Union is the revival
of the Polish language, culture, traditions and mentality in Belarusian
Poles. Nowadays, the UPB comprises some 20 branches and more than 22,000
members.
Apart from the UPB, 14 other Polish associations are also registered in
Belarus, such as «Polska Macierz szkolna na Bialorusi» («Polish school of
Motherland in Belarus»).
Polish public associations print 12 periodicals. The UPB’s daily printing
outlet «Voice from Neman» (circulating 5,600 copies) is distributed
throughout the country and in Poland.
Activities of public associations of Polish minority, primary of the UPB,
are financed and supported by state-run and public organizations of Poland.
They help to build Polish Houses in Belarus, send educational materials for
schools and books for libraries, invite children to spend their holidays in
Poland.
At
the same time, significant assistance in developing Polish national culture
and the UPB’s and other associations’ activities is provided by the
Belarusian State. The State support to everyday activities of Polish
national and cultural public associations is implemented through different
forms, encompassing every single aspect.
In
culture, key forms of such support are the organization of joint events,
backing of Polish associations ' folk art activities on the basis of public
cultural institutions, as well as other forms of direct and indirect
support. For instance, there are more than 85 Polish folk groups acting with
the support of public cultural institutions.
In
education, conditions for learning Polish and in Polish are created. There
are 2 schools (in Hrodna and Valkavysk) and a number of classes in Polish
(in 5 schools in Minsk, Brest and Hrodna). More than 12,000 children learn
Polish in state-run secondary schools and infant schools (the overall number
of people learning Polish in Belarus exceeds 22,000). The salaries for
teachers in Polish come from the state budget.
Before Belarus declared its independence Polish had not been taught in
schools.
Training of teachers for Polish classes is carried out by the Academy of
Postgraduate Education and the Institute of Job Training in Gomel Region in
cooperation with the Teacher’s Centre under the Ministry of National
Education and Sports of the Republic of Poland, with its experts training
Belarusian teachers three times a year during school holidays.
Expenditures of the Republic of Belarus (state and local budgets) in
2004-2005 to cover cultural and educational activities of the Polish
national minority will be about Br 1.5 billion (about USD 600,000).
Current situation around the public association the «Union of Poles in
Belarus» lies outside the sphere of inter-ethnic relations or those between
the state and the Polish national minority in Belarus.
An
internal conflict is at the core of the problem, with this conflict being
not in the Polish minority and not even in the «Union of Poles in Belarus»,
but among the leaders of the Union. Struggle for power between two groups of
the Union leaders has provoked the following: the 6th Congress of the Union
in March 2005, which considered, inter alia, the issue of a new Union
leadership, was conducted with gross violations of the procedure provided
both by the Union’s Charter and by the Belarusian legislation. These
violations were made public by the members of the Union who submitted
numerous appeals to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus.
The Ministry of Justice, whose scope of tasks includes controlling
observance of public associations’ Charters, has thoroughly examined the
situation, having minutely analyzed the process of nominating of candidates
to the Congress, conducting and voting during the Congress. As a result,
serious violations were discovered, and in full accordance with the
Belarusian legislation the 6th Congress of the «Union of Poles in Belarus»
was qualified as illegitimate, the Congress ' decision on the new leadership
of the Union was recognized as taken without appropriate authority. The
Ministry of Justice did not apply any sanctions against this public
association but suggested a constructive compromise: to hold a repeat
Congress.
However, instead of seeking a solution to this situation, complicated in
terms of law, one of the conflicting sides started to actively politicize
the situation and brought the conflict inside the Union to the international
level.
In
pursuit of their interests some forces are trying to play a «national card»
in Belarus. This is particularly disturbing as there is no real basis for
such a «game». Stirring up a diplomatic and political scandal and portraying
the situation inside the Union as an «inter-ethnic conflict» are by no means
acceptable.
The situation in the «Union of Poles in Belarus» should be resolved in
accordance with the Belarusian legislation – this is a position of principle
held by the Government of the Republic of Belarus, committed, though, to
further dialogue with Poland in order to settle all issues in bilateral
relations.
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