Vladimir GONCHARIK: "One should help people cure from fear and inspire hope in them"

2001-07-23

Are you not afraid of Lukashenko's revenge? People lost health, freedom and well-being due to even smaller "faults".

You know, I have lived a long and difficult life sticking to the main rule: do my best for the good of my Motherland and concrete people. You will agree that it is late to change in my age, especially for the sake of selfish interests.

I could not watch indifferently the country going down in the mire. Belarus has all grounds to be a calm, rich and prosperous state. That is why it was a deliberate decision to run in the presidential race. I will not conceal that it was a difficult for me personally, my wife and mother… My mother lives in a village, in Logoisk district [Minsk region]. Although she has only 8 years of education, she is a very respected person in her community. Mother hesitated for a long time, read all the newspapers and finally made a conclusion that her son made the right decision. Her support means very much for me. I know one thing - if we are stricken with fear, if we are constantly afraid of president's revenge, we will live in devastation for five more years and it will go on indefinitely…

Do you rely on the support of the FTUB members?

Many leaders of trade union organizations and local activists have supported my decision, although the Federation is under a total heavy pressure. You can see and hear it. It is important to understand that trade union members are absolutely free whom to support.

There are almost 4.5 million members in the FTUB. It seems that society can consolidate around trade unions.

I hope so. The more so as people in our ranks hold different political beliefs, sometimes the polar ones. I see it my objective to unite them. All of us are primarily Belarus' nationals, and only then members of the Communist Party of Belarus or the Belarusian Popular Front. If we understand this, everything will be all right. Otherwise they will continue breaking us, like twigs from a broom, one by one.

Each of the presidential bidders is to answer a question, how he sees Belarus.

Real economic reforms are vital. But these should be changes without shocks. No one should remain "overboard". One can and should act in such a way so as to conduct reforms for the country's people, but not at their expense. The state is obliged to protect the weak and help the poor. When one claims that reforms can be pursued only following the "dog eat dog" principle, it is just a creepy story, which is aimed at scaring credulous people. Social stability means first of all public accord. Today there is a total split and confrontation. This is what should be changed in the first place. To help people cure from fear, to inspire hope, to give them a real possibility for spiritual and material well-being.

But [the authorities] say that there is economic growth in Belarus. Why change anything?

Let's take the simplest examples to shatter this myth which is imposed by the mass media. To begin with, [let's ask] some questions. When was life in Belarus worse? Only during and after the war. Belarus was always the most well-to-do, though not a very rich republic of the Soviet Union. The country is not falling into an abyss today because there is a foundation laid down back in the Soviet times. But one cannot use it forever. It is already giving in everywhere. It will collapse soon, breaking down under the blatant illiteracy of the current leaders. If we are going through an all-time economic high, why do 40 percent of the population live below the poverty line? Even Lukashenko admitted that our people are growing poorer. Why is the promise of a $100 monthly wage sold as a great achievement, though being just a promise? It [wage] was higher five years ago, while prices were lower. Products of the majority of enterprises are kept unsold at storehouses. Agriculture is in a disastrous state. We should improve all this. Our people are turning into alcoholics and degrading. Belarus is one of the world leaders in terms of the percentage of convicts in the country. Need I continue?

No. But could everything be explained by the fact that "the country is surrounded by enemies?"

The authorities are specially making up these "horrors". They have to explain somehow why [people] in 1998 lived worse than in 1997, in 1999 [they lived] worse than in 1998, etc. The constantly built-up hysteria is not harmless by any means. It destabilizes society and teaches people to live in fear and apathy. Indeed, if you do not look for enemies you will not have any.

What kind of a person should Belarus' new president be, in your opinion? What qualities should he have to cope with difficult tasks?

A skilled organizer with a great working experience who enjoys people's confidence. One can coin many slogans, such as "A cottage to everyone!", "A car to everyone!" and finally, the notorious "$100 wage!", but one should also implement them. I hope the Belarusians will no longer believe the hysterical populist promises. And it is beyond doubt that the head of state should not be mean and revengeful.

Will Belarusians, who for many years have observed an exaggeratedly grotesque person and who probably believe now that the president should personally castigate ministers and drive the harvester during the harvesting, vote for a balanced and sensible man?

Our people are wise. Seven years ago, people were cynically deceived, but they have sorted out what happened. This is proved by the results of sociological polls, even those ordered by Lukashenko's administration. The main point now is to offer a clear and acceptable alternative to the current system.

There are people in Lukashenko's entourage who often violate laws when executing his orders. What is your attitude to them?

There certainly is a problem. Those who have stained themselves with blood will have to be brought to justice. But one should not prosecute people for their convictions. Similarly, it is not a high-priority to dissolve the National Assembly. There are more important problems. One should first of all change the situation in which one man can have limitless power.

What will happen to law-enforcement agencies?

It should be remembered that they are necessary for any state. Belarus should have strong law-enforcement agencies. It will take much efforts, above all by professionals, to make them such, because the current multi-layer controlling agencies are simply ineffective.

What is your attitude to the idea that all presidential bidders should act in one team?

The advantages of a team are evident - it is more difficult to fight it.

Can your being Lukashenko's senior be an obstacle for you in the election campaign [Goncharik is 61]?

"My age is my wealth", the song goes. I think it is difficult to run the country if you have a small working experience. It is not that easy to gain real experience without "getting mature". Speaking about the age, I consider it my advantage in fact. It is typical for my age to show a weighed approach to any situation without zigzagging and to build relations with people on the basis of mutual respect. Besides, everybody understands that I intend to stay one presidential term.

What about your health?

The main thing is that my brains are all right. I have a clean bill of health on other positions, too.

You made recently sensational revelations about "high-profile" disappearances in Belarus.

I have absolutely credible information that the authorities ordered the killing of Yury Zakharenko [former Interior Minister], Viktor Gonchar [opposition leader] and Anatoly Krasovsky [businessman]. I have documents in my possession proving the fact. I sent them to Lukashenko and appealed to him with an open letter through the press. Faced with such compromising materials any normal leader would have immediately resigned.