The Belarussian Christian Democrats (BCD) and the Young Christian Democrats have held there annual congress on 17 December 2011 in Minsk. On behalf of the European Christian Political Youth Network Peter Danku (director of Communications) was present and delivered a speech. Here you can read it:

Honourable Chairman, Dear party officials,

Ladies and Gentlemen, my dear fellow Christian Democrats,

I am delighted and I feel honoured to have the opportunity to speak to you here as a representative of the European Christian Political Youth Network.

‘I believe in Christianity as I believe in the rising sun; not because I see it, but because by it I can see all else.’

These words of Clive Staples Lewis, twentieth-century British novelist and Christian apologist, came into my mind when I was on the plane from Budapest, on my way here to this beautiful country.

This quotation is one of hope and commitment – of the type you have shown in your efforts to receive legal recognition from the authorities here to be officially established and registered. I am keenly aware that this has been an uphill battle for you this past couple of years, as this is the fourth time you have tried to be registered.

By way of example, yesterday my colleague in the ECPM – Leo van Duisburg, who was visiting me in Budapest, but whose visa application to visit Belarus was rejected – told me that the BCD has been fighting for registration for a long time, and that no one knows if and when they will succeed in becoming a party. And then he asked me what I thought.

My answer was immediate: I am full of hope, and I am almost 100% sure that your application will succeed this time. But over the past twenty-four hours my feelings have changed somewhat, and now I am not sure that this, the fourth time, will be a successful end to the story.

I say this because, first of all, none of us acting alone can ensure the future of the Belarusian Christian Democracy; it is all of us together, showing common commitment in close ties with God, who will find the way to contribute to the development of the BCD and a shared European Christian Democracy.

But I know that no matter how much we co-operate, there is still a long way ahead of you, and you face a huge challenge.

If we look to the Bible we can immediately turn to the story of David, who as a young man achieved what seemed impossible in defeating Goliath in a life or death battle.

But just imagine the years that were needed for him to become the vessel of God’s will, until one day he faced his enemy.

And so I ask you to keep up the good work, because you are doing a great job. Knowing your country and the circumstances, there seems to be a long way to go, requiring great commitment and, most importantly, deep belief in God.

Now, before I finish, here is something special for you from Hungary. (A pot of grass is handed over.)

I would like to ask you, Mr. Vital Rymasheuski, to come up and take it from me – please feel free to open it now. This is a nice little plot of grass: something that you have to water every day, so that one sunny day it will be lush and bushy.

Well, you are these grassroots, yours are the Christian political roots of God in this country. This country may be a garden, but it is one with no fertile soil, and where even if you sow grass seeds, some people will deliberately stamp on them and stop them from growing.

But, my fellow Christian Democrats, there is still hope. This morning I was surprised to see that dawn breaks much later in this country. Light may come later, but still we can see the sun rise. No power, no oppressive regime can stop these elements which come from the Lord: abundant sunshine and ample rain.

My friends, I want to come back when this grass has grown to the size of a football field: the field of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party. The ECPM and ECPYN are ready to play a great match on your side as one team with you, together for the championship of a common European Christian Democracy.

That is what I honestly envisage and would like to realise in co-operation with you –something I wish from the bottom of my heart. I and the European Christian Political Youth Network – and our mother party ECPM – are on your side, to help you build a strong foundation for the BCD.

I began my speech saying that I believe in Christianity as I believe in the rising sun – for us now you are the rising sun and the fast-growing grass.
In closing, just trust in the Lord: he will guide your actions. »All you need to do is to care for this tiny plot of grass«.

Thank you! May God bless you all, and have a Blessed Christmas time and a promising New Year.

Peter I. Danku
Director of Communication
European Christian Political Youth Network