Are they waiting for Belarus in Europe?
German politicians and public figures answer the questions of the European Radio for Belarus.
Only the opposition used to exploit the motto “Belarus into Europe” before the oil and gas conflict with Russia. But after it even the Belarusian President announced that Belarus was to start cooperating with Europe. German politicians and public figures answer the questions of the European Radio for Belarus.
Only the opposition used to exploit the motto “Belarus into Europe” before the oil and gas conflict with Russia. But after it even the Belarusian President announced that Belarus was to start cooperating with Europe.
It turned out that an ERB journalist went to Germany and could not help making use of a wonderful opportunity to find out whether anyone was waiting for our country in the European Union.
ERB turned to German politicians, journalists and public figures asking “Is Belarus needed in Europe?”
The foreign affairs editor of “Berliner Zeitung” Frank Herald thinks that not everyone is to realize the importance of the Belarusian issue soon: “The thing is that Europe is experiencing a constitutional crisis. Many politicians say we should not enlarge our union but care about the present EU members. Maybe there will be a policy aimed at supervision of Belarusian internal processes and cooperation. But not every European will understand the importance of the Belarusian issue for Europe soon.”
Professor Holger Venk, dealing with German mass media, thinks that the Belarusian authorities should decide which way they are going to chose and stick to it: “The main strategy concerning the Third World countries is choosing between the East and the West. Where to put up money and get some profit. It is necessary to be attentive and not to turn into a puppet state in this game
In my opinion, Belarus is under a risk of becoming one if it continues to rush about Russia and the European Union.”
According to Barbara Artel, the Eastern Europe news director of “Taz”, Europe feels responsible for Belarus: “I don’t think there will be any results in the near future. Maybe it’s because there are great problems in Europe itself. I personally think, and Brussels thinks so too, that Belarus is part of Europe. It is a culture with its traditions and history. Of course, they feel responsible for this country.”
Norbert Berkman-Dіrkes, the director of internal programmes of the International Cooperation department of Konrad Adenauer Fund, thinks the problem is in the absence of changes in the Belarusian internal policy: “New countries joined the European Union not long ago and time is needed to swallow it. Europe was not really ready for it so it needs time to reform its internal structure.
That is why the EU is not trying to get more countries to join it. The other thing is your country itself. I personally cannot see any important changes in the necessary direction in your country for the past 12 years.
It concerns the main principles of the European Union: free economy and possibility to conduct business, minimum social standards and democratic pluralism which can also be seen at the media market.”
The editor-in-chief of a youth magazine “Schpisor” Julia Kornal thinks that the fact that the European integration process may be slowed down may influence Belarus in the way that the EU may be enlarged: “It seems to me that it is a bit difficult for EU citizens to consider issues of cooperation with any country because the have not coped up with the recent enlargement of the EU.
Politicians are in a twofold position now. On the one hand they have to promote the European idea. On the other hand they should present it the way they would be elected again by their citizens.
I think the process of closing in will be delayed because Europe has recently been enlarged which resulted in a kind of defence reaction from European inhabitants. They should be more careful with the issue. It will slow down the European integration process”.
Thomas Douzenberg, federal director of the “Youth Union of Germany” claims that it is impossible to cross out a country with traditions and values from the European context: “Belarus is part of Europe and the EU is not going to do without Belarus in Europe.
The term Europe has long been limited. Now it has changed so it is impossible to forget about a country with values and traditions.”
Photo by images.newsru.com
Only the opposition used to exploit the motto “Belarus into Europe” before the oil and gas conflict with Russia. But after it even the Belarusian President announced that Belarus was to start cooperating with Europe. German politicians and public figures answer the questions of the European Radio for Belarus.
Only the opposition used to exploit the motto “Belarus into Europe” before the oil and gas conflict with Russia. But after it even the Belarusian President announced that Belarus was to start cooperating with Europe.
It turned out that an ERB journalist went to Germany and could not help making use of a wonderful opportunity to find out whether anyone was waiting for our country in the European Union.
ERB turned to German politicians, journalists and public figures asking “Is Belarus needed in Europe?”
The foreign affairs editor of “Berliner Zeitung” Frank Herald thinks that not everyone is to realize the importance of the Belarusian issue soon: “The thing is that Europe is experiencing a constitutional crisis. Many politicians say we should not enlarge our union but care about the present EU members. Maybe there will be a policy aimed at supervision of Belarusian internal processes and cooperation. But not every European will understand the importance of the Belarusian issue for Europe soon.”
Professor Holger Venk, dealing with German mass media, thinks that the Belarusian authorities should decide which way they are going to chose and stick to it: “The main strategy concerning the Third World countries is choosing between the East and the West. Where to put up money and get some profit. It is necessary to be attentive and not to turn into a puppet state in this game
In my opinion, Belarus is under a risk of becoming one if it continues to rush about Russia and the European Union.”
According to Barbara Artel, the Eastern Europe news director of “Taz”, Europe feels responsible for Belarus: “I don’t think there will be any results in the near future. Maybe it’s because there are great problems in Europe itself. I personally think, and Brussels thinks so too, that Belarus is part of Europe. It is a culture with its traditions and history. Of course, they feel responsible for this country.”
Norbert Berkman-Dіrkes, the director of internal programmes of the International Cooperation department of Konrad Adenauer Fund, thinks the problem is in the absence of changes in the Belarusian internal policy: “New countries joined the European Union not long ago and time is needed to swallow it. Europe was not really ready for it so it needs time to reform its internal structure.
That is why the EU is not trying to get more countries to join it. The other thing is your country itself. I personally cannot see any important changes in the necessary direction in your country for the past 12 years.
It concerns the main principles of the European Union: free economy and possibility to conduct business, minimum social standards and democratic pluralism which can also be seen at the media market.”
The editor-in-chief of a youth magazine “Schpisor” Julia Kornal thinks that the fact that the European integration process may be slowed down may influence Belarus in the way that the EU may be enlarged: “It seems to me that it is a bit difficult for EU citizens to consider issues of cooperation with any country because the have not coped up with the recent enlargement of the EU.
Politicians are in a twofold position now. On the one hand they have to promote the European idea. On the other hand they should present it the way they would be elected again by their citizens.
I think the process of closing in will be delayed because Europe has recently been enlarged which resulted in a kind of defence reaction from European inhabitants. They should be more careful with the issue. It will slow down the European integration process”.
Thomas Douzenberg, federal director of the “Youth Union of Germany” claims that it is impossible to cross out a country with traditions and values from the European context: “Belarus is part of Europe and the EU is not going to do without Belarus in Europe.
The term Europe has long been limited. Now it has changed so it is impossible to forget about a country with values and traditions.”
Photo by images.newsru.com
