Andrei Sannikov: It’s high time to replace “the bald tyre”! (Video)

• 1.12.2010, 21:19

“The world knows that Belarusians are a great nation,” said in his interview the candidate for presidency in Belarus Andrei Sannikov.

On December 1 in his second address on the Belarusian TV Andrei Sannikov stated that he is ready to defeat the incumbent head of the state.

“Polls show that Lukashenka has no support. His rating today is less than 20%, while the rating of the alternative candidates in total is more than 50%. Belarus has awakened, people have come to believe in the victory over the dictatorship, and we see that despite of the use of the administrative leverage, Lukashenka has lost already. Belarusian and international experts say that the run-off election in Belarus is inevitable. And if you will hear different results, you must know it is a deceit. In the second round I will defeat Lukashenka,” Andrei Sannikov stated.

Introducing his programme, he promised that after the change of power investigation of the case of the murdered journalist Aleh Byabenin would be held by the best Belarusian and international experts.

After his victory in the presidential election Sannikov promised to call the Constitutional convention which is to sign into the law amendments to the Constitutional law and return the real separation of powers.” “The country needs an independent parliament and an independent court. The Electoral Code would be changed, free elections of deputies of all levels and mayors will be held. The presidential form of government will be maintained, but the authorities of the president and the term of tenure will be limited,” the candidate stated.

He finds his main and first responsibility to restore the rule of law in the county. That is why after the victory he promises to set up a special commission which is to review all unfair sentences. “Victims of judicial outrage, including the one on political grounds, will be rehabilitated,” Sannikov said.

The candidate for presidency told about his economic programme.

Speaking about the foreign policy, Andrei Sannikov promised that if he becomes the leader of the state, in five-seven years Belarus would join the EU, maintaining the strategic partnership with Russia.

As said by him, the strategic partnership with Russia “meets our national interests and is a guarantee of security and stability in the region.” “No matter how the current regime is trying to put us at odds with Russia and other neighbours, the whole world knows that Belarusians know how to be good friends,” Andrei Sannikov said.

After the change of power he called his main objective “the speediest normalization of relations with all countries which are extremely important for Belarus and with which Lukashenka had had a row.”

“According to the results of the polls, despite of the many-years of intensive anti-Western propaganda, more than 60% of Belarusians want integration with the European Union. […] I promise that after the change of power Belarusians will be able to travel to Europe visa-free,” Sannikov said.

He offered to create a regional zone of free trade, which would allow Belarus to become equal participants of the world economic processes. The same things are said by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia, as the candidate said, and Europe has counter offers.

“It is possible that the Customs union was necessary for us at that stage, in order to make Lukashenka fulfill at least some obligations. But in reality our path of development is liberalization of the trade, joining the World Trade Organization, and moving along the way of lifting trade barriers and limitations in the entire region, in the trade with Russia, Ukraine and Europe,” Sannikov said.

“Renovation is necessary for us, otherwise we won’t get anywhere. By the way, one of these days I visited a car tyre fitting. A service man recognized me, shook my hand and said: “Mr Sannikov, it’s high time to replace the bald tyre,” the politician said.

And finally Andrei Sannikov urged Belarusians to come to the Square in Minsk on December 19 at 8 p.m.

“Women, you want a hero by your side, and not a creature on a sofa. Do not allow them to be tied to your apron-strings. Bless them for action, and they will return to you as winners.

Dear men, I know that most of you have made your choice already. Today the fate of the country is decided on the square, not in the kitchens. Let’s meet on December 19 at 8 p.m. on the Square in Minsk.

We have a right for that. We are a normal European country. There is a European tradition to meet together after the election and wait for the results and celebrate the victory. It is decent and noble. If we won’t come to celebrate, falsifiers and the dictator are to celebrate their victory. We are making the history! The history is created by us! Together we shall win!” the candidate for presidency said.