7 снежня 2015 г.

Distinguished Civil Authorities of the Republic of Belarus (especially Mrs Helen Kupchina, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, dear friend, so rich in human and professional qualities), Distinguished Member of the Diplomatic Corps (in particular H. E. the Ambassador Aleksander Surikov, Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps), Your Excellency Archbishop Metropolitan Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Belarus, Most Reverend Vladyka Seraphim, Bishop of Babruisk and Bykhau, Representative of the Belarusian Orthodox Church,

On June 29th, 2012, during my first speech to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of Belarus I quoted one poem written by a contemporary Belarusian poet: Valeryja Koustava. Allow me to quote it again.

A trembling butterfly was flying near the last flower.
It did not even try to alight.
It was perhaps afraid of breaking its stem.
All of a sudden the sky sighed and rain fell.
A huge drop knocked the weakened butterfly.

Three and a half years later, while I accomplish my service as the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Belarus, my heartfelt memory goes back to the atmosphere of those days. It was a time of deep disputes and isolation between the Western Countries and Belarus. I had been sent by the Holy See with the goal to help the butterfly to keep itself strong, in spite of the drops of rain.

Nowadays I can say that the butterfly, the Belarusian people, feels stronger. Problems are still there, but the climate change. The drops have become less dangerous and even a beam of sun is shining at the horizon.

There is positive conversation, even sometimes dialogue. Principles are still important, but we can discuss how to implement them.

This has been achieved by our common efforts, distinguished Belarusian Authorities and dear friends and colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps, and by the efforts of many other people of good will all over the world, including believers, who prayed for it.

The butterfly does not only perceive abstract discussions around it. It feels stronger because of the warmth that surrounds it.

A butterfly is usually very nice. But our butterfly was used to perceiving that very few, if any, in its life had looked at it with fond eyes. An unending rain had put it in terrible danger. Often the drops had knocked her almost to death.

Let me express this feeling through the words of another Belarusian poet, Valiancina Aksak:

I plant cluster roses,
But nobody comes forth to admire
Their beauty of beyond.

I tailor a coquettish dress for myself,
But nobody comes forth to admire
The beauty of my slender silhouette.

I cook some soulful draniki,
But nobody comes forth to admire
My inexpressible hospitality.

Only mum and forefathers.

I think it is difficult to better represent the self-perception of the Belarusians. Well, thanks to this common effort, somebody else will come and taste draniki.

This is the humble effort of diplomacy. And we are proud when it can be sung by poets and not only reduced to bank accounts.

Now my mission is achieved here, but it starts in another challenging country.

This is only the dawn. Let us work so that we do not plunge ourselves into darkness again. Let us do it for the sake of the butterfly and for the taste of draniki, which we have been generously offered.

Thank you for your friendship and work! Good luck and good by!

God bless you all!