Milinkevich (Belarus opposition): “The regime is bound to collapse, sooner or later””You are the real winners of the last elections”. On January 12 the president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek met in Brussels Belarus opposition leaders, indicating them as the moral winners of December 19 elections, that most European governments and institutions criticized as flawed. The delegation led by Aleksandr Milinkevich, Andrei Aliaksandrau and Stanislau Shushkevich, held meetings with the president of the Euro Chamber and with Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Commenting on the situation of Belarus Buzek said: “We welcome representatives of the democratic opposition and civil society from” Minsk. “During our meeting we have asked them for their advice on how to best handle the current situation: how the European Union, in practical terms, can and should help to give freedom and democracy a real chance” to the former Soviet republic. “Our first priority: the release of all those remaining in prison who were detained on the election night” and in the following days, subjected to persecution and repression. Buzek added: “All European institutions should rethink their relations with Belarus. After 19 December the situation has changed.” The President said he hopes it will be the beginning of “a new phase”, as happened in Poland, his native Country, in the 1980s thanks to Solidarnosc. Alexander Milinkevich, who was awarded with the Sacharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2006, said: “The recent events have involved not only Belarusian population, but also Europe and its leaders. After the elections Lukashenko’s regime came to realize that it isn’t as strong as it had hoped. This is why it resorted to repression. Dozens of civilians are still being kept in prison. This doesn’t mean that we will give up. The current situation in Belarus is very similar to the situation of Poland in the 1980s. Also the Polish population found it hard to believe in change. The same will happen in Belarus, but it’s hard to say how long the regime will still last”. Milinkevich added: “At every meeting in Brussels I keep on saying that what’s most important is to preserve a common European stand. We cannot afford different viewpoints, since the regime would use the differences to make us weaker. Another important distinction is between the Belarus regime and its citizens. It is necessary to impose sanctions against the authorities”, for example by denying them visas, without punishing the population for this.Tallinn and Turku, the “capitals of culture” go-ahead Promoting a territory, a history and a local cultural tradition, viewed within the larger continental framework. It is the primary objective of the “European capitals”, the EU initiative that has reached its 26th edition. This year the cities of Tallin, capital of Estonia, and Turku, in Finland, are in the limelight. In both cities celebrations began a few days ago with artistic events, exhibitions, seminars, initiatives for the youth and for tourists. Tallin and Turku, designated after Essen (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey), capitals in 2010, are called to propose cultural events that will enhance their European identity and directly involve all citizens. The Cultural Capital cities each receive a 1,5 million euro EU grant to promote their cultural events. They are also expected to invest from their respective budgets. The Estonian capital – points out the Commission – “aims to boost its creativity and tradition whilst enhancing its medieval cultural heritage and its maritime past”. Urban upgrading projects will be carried out during the year. On the agenda figures the Tallinn Maritime Days, an event especially dedicated to the families, and a rock concert to celebrate the independence of Estonia, addressed to the young and to the old alike. “The cultural program of the Finnish capital of Turku focuses on the importance of culture for the environment and for our well-being”. The city, located on the South-West coast of Finland, “will launch cultural projects aimed at promoting, for example, wellbeing in school environments and in old-ages homes”. During the year the two cities will undertake joint initiatives highlighting their geographic and ethnic closeness while drawing attention to the problem of pollution in the Baltic Sea. A concert and fireworks in Tallinn gave the kick-off to the celebrations a few days ago. Turku opened the year with a three-day program, that will start on January 15, which includes an open-air performance on the Aura River.
