Bielorrússia

A propósito da difícil situação bielorrusa: What Color for Minsk?, por Bogdan Klich.

Belarus is an old Stalinist type of regime. President Lukashenka has ruled with an iron fist for over a decade now. Nevertheless the situation around Belarus is changing. It's not business as usual anymore, particularly after the Orange Revolution. Young Belarusians travel often to neighboring Poland, Lithuania or Ukraine. At Independence Square in Kiev there were many Belarusian white-red-white (banned by the regime) flags waving. Those young people came back home infected with the virus of democracy and a stronger motivation to oppose the regime.###

I'm convinced that Belarus is among the next in line to make a positive step towards democracy. The European model, based on values -- support for democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and human rights -- provides a strong center of gravity. It will move in the direction of Minsk. This process is inevitable.

Regarding Belarus the EU has to build on its constructive role in the Ukrainian crisis. A coherent and demanding position of our community at next year's presidential election in Belarus is the least we owe to the people of that country. They struggle, they risk lives for values which are everyday reality for us. We must not let them down.

The Georgians had the Rose, the Ukrainians Orange as the symbol of their peaceful revolution. What will the Belarusians choose to symbolize their struggle for democracy, freedom and dignity? It is only a question of time to know the answer.

Só é pena que o o "modelo europeu" inclua actualmente um Estado Social esclerosado, insustentável e promotor de graves problemas sociais, mas importa ter sempre presente que a luta pela liberdade é permanente e se processa em várias frentes...