Belarusian minister comments on upcoming referendum in Poland

KAMENETS DISTRICT, 8 September (BelTA) - Belarus expects that common sense will prevail when Poland holds a referendum on the fence built in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarusian Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Andrei Khudyk told the media on 8 September, BelTA has learned.

“We do not see the world through the rose-colored glasses and understand very well why the Polish government did not hold a referendum earlier and decided not to consult their people. Now they are most likely planning to legalize this fence by the people's vote. They probably have only such plans on mind. But I hope that an active part of the Polish society will speak out, and we will know about it and see that there are many people who take care of nature, the environment, and not only in words, but in deeds do everything to preserve this world for the next generations,” Andrei Khudyk said.

In his words, Belarusians are highly concerned about the negative consequences of the fence in the relic forest and use various forms and methods to convey their concern to the world community, and above all to the Polish government, the Polish people. “I hope that our work has also influenced the fact that this issue was put to a referendum. The decision has to be made,” the minister emphasized.

The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park played host to a meeting of the Public Coordination Ecological Council under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection on 8 September. The agenda included topical issues related to the consequences of the barrier built by Poland in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The event took place ahead the national referendum which is due to take place in Poland on 15 October. One of the questions the referendum is going to ask will be: “Do you support the removal of the barrier on the border between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Belarus?”.

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