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Agreement on cooperation between opposition presidential hopefuls may be signed next week

An agreement on cooperation between opposition hopefuls during the forthcoming presidential race may be signed at a meeting on August 24, Mikalay Statkevich, leader of the European Coalition, told BelaPAN.

The agreement was discussed during a meeting held on August 18 by Mr. Statkevich and representatives of other potential presidential candidates, namely, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Yaraslaw Ramanchuk, Syarhey Kalyakin, Vital Rymashewski, Ryhor Kastusyow and Ales Mikhalevich.

The agreement would create a platform for pro-democratic forces to coordinate their activities during the presidential campaign, Mr. Statkevich said.

"No reasonable person or pro-democratic organization could refuse to sign the agreement," Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party who participated in the meeting, told BelaPAN.

The agreement provides for cooperation in observing the election, delegating representatives to election commissions, pushing for improving electoral regulations and the way they are applied and staging street protests in the event of ballot-rigging.

"The August 24 meeting will show who is ready to be in one team," Mr. Lyabedzka said.