Opposition wants EU to introduce indulgences for Belarus officials?
The pro-democracy leaders in Belarus are set to propose to the European Union to introduce a tax "for the needs of democracy in Belarus" and indulgences for the Belarusian officials. The proposal was not only voiced at a recent conference in Vilnius but was studied by an ad hoc working group which comprised among others political analyst Andrei Suzdaltsev deported from Belarus to Russia. The conference was titled "Civil Society and the possibilities for democratic changes in the light of the 2008 parliamentary elections" and took place on November 16-17.
Anatol Lyaukovich, the acting chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) told the European Radio for Belarus about the issues raised by his party during the plenary session:
“It is desirable to ask the European Union whether Belarus will be part of EU in 5, 10, 15, 20 years. We want the European Union to give a concrete answer and tell us what we need to do for that. There is also the issue of supporting democratic organizations and movements in Belarus".
One of the proposals was based on the idea that one dollar is deducted from every ton of oil or potash fertilizers sold by Belarus to EU and accumulated in a special fund to support pro-democracy forces in Belarus. Economist Leanid Zaika shared with the European Radio for Belarus his comments on this proposal.
“The projects proposed by the opposition to collect additional taxes on the goods exported from Belarus should be referred to as "fiction projects"…
However, figuratively speaking, the new tariffs for gas and oil and the prices with the export duties can be described as the Russian tax on authoritarianism”.
Meanwhile, the project was tabled to the planning and analytical group of the United Civic Party. The proposal was further to be studied by the board of the United Democratic Forces:
“I was present at the meeting but did not hear about this issue. The information about the conference in Vilnius was announced, but I did not hear anything like that", Valery Ukhnalyou told the European Radio for Belarus.
No opposition leader has calculated exactly how much money the tax "on democracy in Belarus" could collect. But eveyone is confident that the sum would be very significant.
“Belarus's exports of petrochemical products to EU countries amounts to $6 billion. If calculated as $1 per one ton of oil, the total amount could reach dozens of million dollars," says Leanid Zaika.
Another interesting proposal was voiced at the conference in Vilnius, according to Igar Shynkaryk, the deputy chairman of the United Civic Party.
“The idea is to print bonds and distribute them so that every official could buy a certain indulgence for a certain amount of money and live more or less quietly afterwards", Shynkaryk told the European Radio for Belarus.
Anatol Lyaukovich, the acting chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) told the European Radio for Belarus about the issues raised by his party during the plenary session:
“It is desirable to ask the European Union whether Belarus will be part of EU in 5, 10, 15, 20 years. We want the European Union to give a concrete answer and tell us what we need to do for that. There is also the issue of supporting democratic organizations and movements in Belarus".
One of the proposals was based on the idea that one dollar is deducted from every ton of oil or potash fertilizers sold by Belarus to EU and accumulated in a special fund to support pro-democracy forces in Belarus. Economist Leanid Zaika shared with the European Radio for Belarus his comments on this proposal.
“The projects proposed by the opposition to collect additional taxes on the goods exported from Belarus should be referred to as "fiction projects"…
However, figuratively speaking, the new tariffs for gas and oil and the prices with the export duties can be described as the Russian tax on authoritarianism”.
Meanwhile, the project was tabled to the planning and analytical group of the United Civic Party. The proposal was further to be studied by the board of the United Democratic Forces:
“I was present at the meeting but did not hear about this issue. The information about the conference in Vilnius was announced, but I did not hear anything like that", Valery Ukhnalyou told the European Radio for Belarus.
No opposition leader has calculated exactly how much money the tax "on democracy in Belarus" could collect. But eveyone is confident that the sum would be very significant.
“Belarus's exports of petrochemical products to EU countries amounts to $6 billion. If calculated as $1 per one ton of oil, the total amount could reach dozens of million dollars," says Leanid Zaika.
Another interesting proposal was voiced at the conference in Vilnius, according to Igar Shynkaryk, the deputy chairman of the United Civic Party.
“The idea is to print bonds and distribute them so that every official could buy a certain indulgence for a certain amount of money and live more or less quietly afterwards", Shynkaryk told the European Radio for Belarus.
