MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) - The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection has published an address by the Public Environmental Coordinating Council to the Polish public, BelTA learned from the press service of the ministry.
"We, the members of the Public Environmental Coordinating Council at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, representatives of national and regional public associations, scientific and academic communities and the youth of Belarus appeal to the Polish public in anticipation of the national referendum in the Republic of Poland.
Dear neighbors, friends! On 15 October of this year, you will decide the fate of the unique UNESCO World Heritage Site - Belovezhskaya Pushcha, our common historical heritage and pride.
For Belarusians and Poles, the word ‘Białowieża' means a lot! The unique Belovezhskaya Pushcha existed long before us, for more than 600 years. It was not destroyed either during the First World War or the Second World War. It is a national symbol of natural beauty, tradition, resilience and independence. Together we restored it after the plunder in 1919. Together we renewed the bison population," the address says.
The members of the Public Environmental Coordinating Council highlighted the importance of joint preservation of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, taking into account its outstanding universal value. “After all, it does not belong to us, but to our descendants. These are not just words, an appeal or a slogan. This is an indisputable truth that does not require proof!
The construction of the barrier divided Belovezhskaya Pushcha into two parts, thereby causing irreparable damage to its wildlife, its primeval relict forest. We appeal to you to support the removal of the barrier between the two parts of our common UNESCO World Heritage Site Belovezhskaya Pushcha as you go to the polls during the upcoming referendum. We call on you to support the decision to demolish the fence, ‘to remove a concrete foreign body from Europe's lungs' and thus leave a legacy to our descendants," the Public Environmental Coordination Council said.
The address also stressed that Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a kind of indicator or a marker of a prosperous environment and hence the well-being of people. "We hope that the common sense will prevail and the unique natural object - Belovezhskaya Pushcha - will remain intact thanks to out joint efforts," the address said.
