Karpenka comments on results of All-Belarusian People's Assembly

1996-10-21 12:30

Minsk, 21 October. "I don't see any objective of the so-called All-Belarusian People's Assembly," Henadz Karpenka, deputy chairman of the Supreme Soviet, said in an interview with BelaPAN. "I was naive to think that during the Assembly the draft constitution and the economic program would receive a thorough consideration, and that certain alterations would be made. In fact, it turned into an ordinary talking-shop praising the president. I cannot say for others, but this show made me feel sad. I did not see so much hypocrisy and praise even at CPSU [the Communist Party of the Soviet Union] and CPB [the Belarusian Communist Party] congresses," Mr. Karpenka said. In his opinion, President Lukashenka did not insist on holding the referendum on November 7 because he received no support from Russia, failed to "break down" the Supreme Soviet and began to feel the real strength of the democratic movement especially after the congress and rally in defense of the constitution.