(Megre is given presents from Belarus. National hand – made shirt for him ant for his son, a dress for Anastasia.)

- So, I don’t know how to start. I was not told to say anything, so just I say good afternoon. Thanks for being here (applause).

- I am probably the most happy writer I’ve ever known, because… because probably nobody could just meet people… not authority but people, people who in some way gather money and create groups.

- And the same happens in every big city of Russia, in the countries of CIS and also abroad. And it is strange that I was not a writer, but… after I met a woman… certainly I have been meeting not the only woman… who said that I am going to write a book and it will be read by many people… and…I will bring many people to you… and it has happened. And meeting, this meeting in Belarus, meeting to you, it will be the most challenging meeting during 10 years (applause).

I want to try to talk out together with you - who Anastasia is and what is going on in the world… what she does and what we can do…

- I want to thank organizers for arranging this meeting, for big troubles they had and finally organized it.

- If it is possible, come to the scene, if you are in a hall – just stand out. Organizers… (a lot of applause, it is impossible to hear anything).

Overall… - (a child came to a scene, laughter in a hall). – Also an organizer. Thank you, that’s enough - (to a child). Go. (Laughter in the hall).

Now I want to thank people who have come here from far away. I was told that there is a delegation from… tell from where you are, from Ukraine, are you? – (from the hall: yes!) – Where are you, stand up! – (noise, applause). From where? … From Ukraine? Yes, o.k. – (laughter in the hall). What else?... Poland?

- Baltic countries are here also? (from our group: Lithuania! Lithuania! Noise, applause). Oh, so there are so many here! – (from the hall: a Caravan of Bards). – The Caravan of Bards and you also are welcomed. (Noise, applause). – Just quite… without emotions. (Laughter in the hall).

I have told that I am probably the happiest writer but… and… so in which way emotions overfill people. You understand, I come to a scene, a hall always stands up, I am not a leader, it is not necessary to do that. I understand… for that… for that I am grateful to you… for that… that you have understood about what I write but, please, understand… many unkind people use this and say: “You understand, it is something uncanny, it is a sect” (Laughter in the hall). They know it is not a sect, they do it deliberately. That’s why I want to thank people who, if they are in this hall, would not be able to stand up. I would like to thank people whom I have not met and thanks to who this meeting came true.

- Who are these people? … You know, here, in Belarus, the whole month something like a real struggle has been happening… a struggle of some groups of high rank for stopping the possibility that this meeting come true. And what kind of courage one needs that in spite of all calumny and orders from “above”, in spite of calls from Moscow… found inside a noble courage… and have done thing in the way to make this meeting come true.

- You know that… they can be officers from “organs”, these people who we call “officers of high rank”… They took that responsibility. I want to thank them so much and want, if you agree with me, to give them as a present – your applause (applause).