"The Polish authorities once promised to help build a Belarusian museum in the town of Hajnowka but seem to have forgotten their promise, Mr. Syczewski complained."
"Poland's plan of expanding the Bialowieza National Park makes 'economic survival' rather problematic for the ethnic Belarusians who populate the area, Mr. Syczewski said. 'It is growing into a very serious ethnic and political problem,' he added."
"Mr. Syczewski also blamed the Catholic Church for 'acts of provocation' against Bialystok's Belarusian-dominated Orthodox Christian community. According to him, Catholic officials in Bialystok have demanded that a local TV station should stop reporting on Orthodox events."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 238; Monday, November 27, 2000; 6:30 p.m.
"Among the authors are promoters of Belarusian cultural and national rebirth in Poland, such as Heorhiy Valkavytsky, Sakrat Yanovich, Viktar Shved, Uladzimir Hayduk, Dzmitry Shatylovich, Ales Barski, Yan Chykvin, and Mikola Hayduk. The collection, which is entitled Belarusian Writers of Poland, contains poems by Nadzeya Artymovich, Zosya Sachko, Mira Luksha, Yurka Heniyush, Mikhas Shakhovich, Yury Bayena, Vasil Petruchuk, Yanka Zhamoytsin, Alena Anishewskaya, and Mikhas Andrasyuk."
"In his foreword, Dr. Uladzimir Konan, a researcher with the Belarusian education ministry's Francisak Skaryna Center, says that Belarusian literature in Poland has 50-year history, deep-rooted traditions and three aesthetic genres, -- national rebirth, modernism, and postmodernism -- all represented in the book."
"The Belarusian Civil and Cultural Society (BCCS), which was established in Poland in 1956, has more than 6,000 members and libraries and clubs across the country. The BCCS initiated the establishment of the Belarusian Philology Department at Warsaw University. It has been publishing the weekly Niva since 1956. Works by about 170 Belarusian authors were published in the journal in the period from 1957 to 1998."
"Belavezha, the Belarusian literary association in Poland, published 140 books and literary journals since its establishment in 1958."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 100; Thursday, August 24, 2000; 5:30 p.m.
"Anna Surmach, chairperson of the World Alliance of Belarusians Batskawshchyna, told BelaPAN that the decision to hold the conference in Bialystok had been made two years earlier and should not be linked to the political situation in Belarus. Bialystok was chosen because a numerous community of ethnic Belarusians with ancient and genuine national culture resides in the province. The organizers of the conference also included the Francisak Skaryna Cultural and Educational Centre and three Polish associations. 'The Belarusian delegation of 40 members came without representatives of the State Committee on Ethnic and Religious Affairs and other governmental agencies,' Ms Surmach said."
"Among those who hailed the conference were the Polish minister of culture and the deputy head of the Bialystok regional administration. The representatives of the Belarusian Embassy in Poland and the Consulate of Belarus in Bialystok who attended the conference, 'emphasised their presence in no way,' Ms Surmach said."
"The conference participants passed a resolution stressing the need to establish a Belarusian Cultural Centre in Bialystok."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 83; Friday, July 24, 1998; 7:20 p.m.