Swedish government urged to change Belarus' official name
Belarusians living in Sweden has urged the government of the Scandinavian country change the official name of our country from Vitrussland to Belarus. The demand was filed with the Swedish foreign ministry, the language council and academy.
The letter was endorsed by a group led by Andrei Katliarchuk and musicians from Dreamgale pop band. The appeal notes that the current name of Belarus -- Vitrussland -- is literally translated as "White Russia", thus degrading the sovereignty of Belarus. This is the reason that Swedes often get confused over Russians and Belarusians.
The Belapan news agency reminds in Swedish MP Urban Alin proposed to change the official name of Belarus in 1996 but found no support from fellow lawmakers.
The letter was endorsed by a group led by Andrei Katliarchuk and musicians from Dreamgale pop band. The appeal notes that the current name of Belarus -- Vitrussland -- is literally translated as "White Russia", thus degrading the sovereignty of Belarus. This is the reason that Swedes often get confused over Russians and Belarusians.
The Belapan news agency reminds in Swedish MP Urban Alin proposed to change the official name of Belarus in 1996 but found no support from fellow lawmakers.
