German guest shares her impressions about Belarus

Ursel Mellenberg

BREST, 8 May (BelTA) - In the West, they always say bad things about Belarus. I wanted to see for myself how things really are. I am impressed by what I saw, said Ursel Mellenberg, a guest from the German delegation, sharing her impressions with a BelTA correspondent.

This is her first trip to Belarus. “I was very motivated to come. In West Germany, much of what we hear about Belarus is critical, where President Aleksandr Lukashenko is often described as a dictator. I wanted to discover the truth for myself. I am very surprised by how beautiful the city [Brest] is, the architecture, how history is preserved, and how friendly the people are. Those are my first impressions. I compare everything to Germany. The trip brings me joy,” she shared.

She expressed hope that relations between the European Union and Belarus will improve. “I am an optimist. I hope that one day relations between Belarus and Germany will normalize again, that mutual understanding with Europe will be found and bridges will be built. For my part, I will do everything I can: talk to friends, family, neighbors and other people. We must try to negotiate peace,” she said.

The German guests went on a sightseeing tour of Brest on 8 May. “Our guide told us about the city and its history in a very interesting way. Brest is beautiful with so much water and green areas. It is very, very beautiful. I look forward to more surprises from the program. But we are not only here to discover new things – we are also here to talk about the terrible past [the consequences of the Great Patriotic War] and what we can do for peace,” Ursel Mellenberg said.

According to her, she has read a lot in books about the war and the mark it left on the territory of Belarus. “The Brest Fortress was the first to stand against the enemy’s advance during World War II. Everything around was destroyed. It was terrible,” she said, unable to hold back tears. “It is frightening. It is hard for me to take it all in. The tragedy of the past has not faded. I want to see that place and discover how Belarusians remember it,” she added.

Photos by Violetta Yuzhakova