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Every measure should be taken to ensure equality of Belarusian and Russian, says chairman of pro-government union of writers

Every measure should be taken to support Belarusian to ensure the equality of the two state languages, Mikalay Charhinets, chairman of the pro-government Union of Writers of Belarus (UWB), told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

Mr. Charhinets claimed that the UWB proposes such measures at least once a year. "For example, we've recommended a number of organizations – both military and civilian – commercial companies and governmental agencies to gradually introduce Belarusian language courses," he said, stressing, however, that no one should be forced to study Belarusian. "[They should] do appropriate explanatory work and even allow those attending Belarusian language courses to finish work an hour earlier."

At the suggestion of the UWB, the names of all cities, streets and villages are written on road signs in the Belarusian language, Mr. Charhinets said.

"The Russian language may be used along international routes such as the Brest-Moscow highway," he said. "But we're against screaming hysterically, 'The mother tongue is perishing! The mother tongue is perishing!'"

Several of the questions that were posed to Ms. Charhinets were in Belarusian, but he answered them in Russian. Moreover, he even asked fellow speakers to translate them into Russian. //BelaPAN