Third Way’s Statement on the Status of Belarusian and Russian Languages, and National Symbolic in Belarus

We stand for the total support of gradual nonviolent spreading of Belarusian language as a language of Belarusian higher education institutes and educational elite, and finally as the dominant language of communication in Belarus. At the same time, we clearly understand that Russian language is a language of everyday and business life for millions of Belarusians and stand for its preservation as a special status language (but not state status) and we are against any forms of discrimination of its speakers in the country.

Historical symbols of Belarus – coat of arms “Pahonia”, white-red-white flag and also one of the historical anthems and works of non-Soviet period are to regain their status by national referendum and replace post soviet symbolic of present days which are coined with the violation of human rights and constitutional principles.

Belarusian language

Practically all people know and understand Belarusian language in Belarus, at the same time, only a small amount of people speaks and reads it. This language of our people, in many respects due to Lukashenka’s efforts, but also due to corrupted language policy in 1991-1994, has become left far behind Russian language.

The issue of restoration of its status as of main state language is of paramount importance nowadays.

Special measures in legal sphere (changes in constitution, other laws), launch of special state programs and special work with population using media –all this should be done to popularize the language. Belarusian language should become dominant in state sphere (especially in the sphere of state management and media). State workers should be demanded to know the language on a high level. All the workers that represent state should pass special exams on Belarusian language. If they won’t be able to answer a citizen in Belarusian, they should be sanctioned.

Belarusian language should be necessary to use in state documents, state offices, street signs and the names of the street (in this case both Russian and English are possible). In everyday life the use of the language should lead to real bonuses for a usual citizen (e.g. rise in wages) and is not to be compulsory, except for state offices, state mass media. Language should actively be used in the spheres of high and professional education, by means of management decisions, material bonus. At the same workers of police, hospitals, teachers, firemen, and other state workers should know both Russian and Belarusian as well (this ill also be checked by special exam).

It is necessary to guarantee the supremacy of the language on local and regional levels and it is inadmissible to give special regional status to the language, as it is in Ukraine now.

The state, on the other hand, has to guarantee a period of smooth transition (for 10 years) to such a system, giving the free possibility of intensive studies of Belarusian language, and also explanatory work in a form of informational company in state mass media. In this way, the primary status of Belarusian language will be restored.

Russian language

Russian language is also known in Belarus practically y all people. Unfortunately, this was reached through discrimination of Belarusian language and russification policy. Besides, - Russian is the language of international communication in the country.

The ability to speak in Russian on the level of mother tongue – is a big part of our national social capital. It is a competitive advantage in modern world, as well s knowing English for our citizen. At the moment Belarus has no problems with Russian language. We would like to preserve this situation further, removing barriers of spread of Belarusian language.

Native speakers of Russian language should be protected from potential discrimination. Russian language should receive status of language of international communication, but not state language. Its use should not be forbidden or measured in any way (but for mass media and state offices); the ability to speak this language should be preserved on a proper level.

The flag

Flag of BSSR, used nowadays as a state, is ideal for Belarus of Lukashenka’s times, but is not right for Belarus in a long-term period. It is too connected with the Soviet past, which is to be ended with, it is esthetically losing and historically unjustified. It can’t serve as a flag of independent state. For the last two centuries, when the flags appeared, Belarus practically had no independence, being under the rule of Russian Empire and the USSR. The only exclusion was the formation of BNR – 6 month in 1918. Only for a short period, but this formation symbolized Belarusian state system, this, in turn, became reason for creation of BSSR as a separate republic. And its white-red-white flag was based on organic for Belarusians and all the Christian world red and white colors, coming from Belarusian coat of arms. We find the confirmation of using these colors in the flags of several states of Europe, ceremonial dress of hierarchs of Orthodox Church (white-red-white strips). That’s why we stand for the restoration of the flag through national referendum, followed by information campaign, telling people the true value of historical symbols and destructing the cliché, created by Lukashenka that connects this flag with fascists.

Coat of arms

“Pahonia” is an ancient historical symbol of power that has traditional Slavic origin (its roots are in traditions of Polotsk state system, then it became the symbol of power in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania) that is testified by patriarch cross on the shield of the horseman, dominating red and white colors of the coat of arms. Lithuania has practically the same coat of arms. We stand for the restoration of historical coat of arms “Pahonia” instead of pseudohistorical modern coat of arms.

Anthem

The retouched anthem of the BSSR can’t be the anthem of a free country. We think it is necessary to organize public contest on the new anthem of the country, involving specialists, TV and Internet voting, and discussion of historical and modern versions, suitable music compositions and texts. The best compositions should be proposed for national referendum. The winning composition will officially become the new national anthem.