"About 50 children were selected to take part in the contest programme of the festival. Representatives of China, Lithuania, and Russia are to take part in the festival as well."
Source: Belarusian Governmental Propaganda Agency, BelTA, March 23, 2001
"Mr. Kruczkowski gives lectures on Polish history and the history of the Polish community in Belarus at Hrodna (Grodno) State University."
" 'Our attitude toward the authorities and the opposition will depend on their attitude toward the rights of the Polish minority,' Mr. Kruczkowski told BelaPAN. He stressed that ABP is a social and cultural, not political, association mostly dealing with education issues and the revival of Polish cultural traditions. Mr. Kruczkowski criticized the government and some opposition figures for denying the existence of the Polish minority in Belarus and regarding ethnic Poles as Belarusian Catholics."
"Mr. Kruczkowski believes that the ABP should give priority to promoting Polish-language education. He suggested that secondary schools in the Hrodna region, where 70 percent of the Belarusian Poles are concentrated, should offer children an opportunity to study the Polish language and the history of Poland as separate subjects. Conditions should be created in the country for university education in Polish, Mr. Kruczkowski said."
"In reply to a question about his attitude toward former ABP Chairman Tadeusz Gawin's decision to form a democratic faction within the association, Mr. Kruczkowski said, 'We proposed long ago that he set up a political party to work together with Belarusian democratic movements and defend the interests of the Polish minority.' "
"The ABP has about 22,000 members at present. Most of its cells are located in the Hrodna region."
"About 400,000 Poles were registered in Belarus as a result of the 1999 census, but the ABP says that their true number is about 600,000."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 11; Monday, December 4, 2000; 3:45 p.m.
"The move is his response to the recent changes in the ABP leadership, as Mr. Gawin told BelaPAN."
"Mr. Gawin's term as ABP chairman was to expire in April 2001, but he resigned on July 5, 2000. He said he left his post in protest against the Polish authorities' unexpected decision to forbid ABP Deputy Chairman Juzef Porzecki the country. The Polish secret services said that Mr. Porzecki was a threat to the country's security, according to Mr. Gawin. He said that Mr. Porzecki had also intended to step down after the incident."
"Mr. Gawin said that most of the ABP Council members did not share his view that the ABP should be a strong democratic organization, and that was another reason for his resignation. 'People in the ABP leadership blamed all our failures and mistakes on my democratic position and conflicts with the authorities,' Mr. Gawin said. He noted that conflicts within the ABP leadership were triggered by the Belarusian authorities' Russification policy."
"At a conference held on November 18 and 19, the ABP elected Tadeusz Kruczkowski, a 39-year-old history lecturer at Hrodna (Grodno) State University, to head the association."
"Mr. Porzecki changed his mind and decided not to quit the ABP leadership. He was re-elected deputy chairman. 'I was disappointed with his choice because Kruczkowski intends to terminate contacts with the democratic opposition and increase cooperation with the Belarusian authorities,' Mr. Gawin said."
"He pointed out that the ABP should work together not only with the authorities but also with the organizations advocating Belarus' independence and human rights, including the rights of ethnic minorities."
"Mr. Gawin also expressed his displeasure with the replacement of Andrzej Kusielczuk by Andrzej Dubikowski in the post of chief editor of the ABP's newspaper Glos z-nad Niemna. 'I do not understand the position of the new leader, who believes that the newspaper should only write about educational affairs, the culture and history of the Polish community in Belarus,' Mr. Gawin said. He noted that the newspaper had sought to carry information about all events in the country to its readers before."
"Mr. Gawin stressed that he will continue working together with Belarus' democratic forces as an ordinary member of the association."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 244; Tuesday, November 28, 2000; 8:40 p.m.
"The program includes a special religious service and a show of documentaries and movies at the Red Church; exhibitions at the Minsk International Education Center, the Belarusian State University, the Management Academy of the President, and the Belarusian Collegium; and a lecture and meetings with Polish politicians."
"Solidarity was established in August-September 1980 as a result of spontaneous strikes that broke out in the Lublin province and spread all over the country. About 10 million people joined the union after its registration including members of the Polish United Workers' Party."
"Solidarity went underground in 1982 after the imposition of the state of martial law."
"The Polish government lifted the ban on the union in 1989 following 1988 nation-wide strikes."
"Solidarity won 92 of 100 parliamentary seats in the 1989 election in Poland. Solidarity candidate Lech Walesa won the presidential election in 1990."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 110; Sunday, August 27, 2000; 3:30 p.m.
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