Another step towards Europe: Yancheuski promises to phone Syaredzich
EHU will not return to Minsk before “Narodnaya Vola” returns to news-stalls. Rumours about the Belarusian authorities suggesting that EHU should return to Belarus aroused a hope that Minsk had decided to continue fulfilling the demands of Europe. However, the rector of EHU Anatol Mihailau refuted it.
Anatol Mіhailau: “I am very surprised at the information, it is unexpected for me”.
The first rector of EHU Uladzimir Dunayeu confessed to ERB that the current “Law on Education” would not allow the university to function in Belarus.
Uladzіmіr Dunaeu: “A European university working according to Bologna model… I can’t imagine it working in Belarus now. The return of EHU to Belarus depends on the legislation that differs from the legislation of all the other European countries. Belarus does not participate in Bologna process. It is also necessary to remember about academic freedoms and the university autonomy”.
According to the pro-rector, the issue of the return of EHU to Belarus is not an issue of interaction of two people. Many things have to be changed in the Belarusian legislation and in the authorities’ attitude to independent educations. Dunayeu says that they dream of returning to Belarus. However, the administration of EHU would not move the university to Minsk even if they were asked to do it today and promised that the legislation would be changed tomorrow.
Another rumour about liberalization was the information that the “BDG. Business Newspaper” would be restored. The editor-in-chief of the edition Pyotr Martsau confirmed to ERB that one of the officials from the President’s Administration had asked him why the newspaper was not printed anymore.
Pyotr Martsau: “An official from the Administration had a private conversation with me so I cannot tell you the name of the person. He wondered why I was not printing the newspaper anymore. I answered why. And that was it”.
The editor-in-chief thinks that further liberalization may be possible only if there are real negotiations between Belarus and Europe.
Pyotr Martsau: “It is theoretically possible if there are real negotiations between the European Union and Belarus. Mutual agreement should be reached and a plan of cooperation of the European Union with Belarus should be elaborated. Otherwise, I do not see why the Belarusian authorities may allow “BDG” to be printed and ask EHU to return to Minsk. My summer talk with that official was only a kind of kiteflying caused by the pre-election period”.
The editor-in-chief of “Narodnaya Vola” Iosif Syaredzich does not believe in the possible thaw either.
Іosіf Syaredzіch: “Alyaksandr Ryhoravich told me at a press conference two years ago: “Why do you think I do not want you to print your edition in Minsk? Do it, if you please.” I sent a letter reminding about it to the President’s Administration on September 3. They had to answer me within a month but they didn’t. I phoned the secretary of Yancheuski. She phoned me back and gave me his reply: he promised to contact me within two weeks. Three weeks has passed and nothing has happened. This is the answer to the question about the thaw”.
Meanwhile, “Belposhta” has refused to add “Narodnaya Vola”, “Nasha Niva”, “SNplus. Svobodnye novosti plus”, “Tovarisch”, “Borisovskie novosti”, “Vitebsk Courier-M”, “Volnaye Hlybokae”, “Hazeta Slonіmskaya”, “Gantsavіckі Chas” and “Intex-press” (Baranavіchy) to the subscription catalogue.
