Lyabedzka: Opposition leader's job brings problems
The European
Union forces the Belarusian authorities to change. Can the EU insist on changes
in the Belarusian opposition? Or maybe the opposition is no longer needed? Read
an interview with Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party (UCP).
ERB: Relations between the EU and Minsk have warmed lately. Has the West changed its attitude to the Belarusian opposition as well?
AL: A year or even ten years ago several opposition figures could outplay the whole Belarusian foreign office together with their Russian counterparts. Now the situation is changing and the United Pro-democratic Forces need to take a greater effort to be competitive and effective on the international scene. If we fail to do so, we may have problems on the international arena.
ERB: Do not you think the opposition is exhausted? The country's main problem may be the lack of a different opposition?
AL: The opposition has been on the frontline all these years and acted very effectively on the international scene. That is why Lukashenka's foreign ministry, Lukashenka and his government suffered humiliating defeats. But the current situation does not depend on certain leaders of political organizations.
International organizations believe that it is necessary to offer the Lukashenka regime as much of a chance as possible, to find at least a small opportunity for negotiations. This depends on purposes that the international community pursues, not on people in opposition.
ERB: Don't you think the regime wanted to change long ago, but was unwilling to do something that the opposition advised it to do. Now that it has a mediator, the EU, it has started to change?
AL: The government's policies change under the influence of external factors linked to the global financial crisis, which has affected us indirectly, through Russia, which is no longer as comfortable as before. Lukashenka's financial and economic position worsened lately. This is the main reason why Lukashenka started looking for partners, maybe temporary ones, in the West. Economic circumstances forced him to do so, not a change in his perception.
ERB: If the West offered the opposition an upgrade, would you be ready to quit and what would you do for living?
AL: If someone from the outside offered me to do something like that, I would flatly refuse because it would be an act of disrespect for the UCP and its members. Do you think that someone in Europe is cleverer, more experienced and educated than former Prime Minister Mikhail Chyhir, Alyaksandr Dabravolski, Valyantsina Palevikova, Stanislau Bahdankevich, who headed the National Bank, or former ministers Kazlouski and Sasnou?
The selection of leaders is the internal matter of this organization.
ERB: But can the EU force the opposition to change they way they forced the authorities? It may also set 12 conditions for the opposition?
AL: This is impossible because the pro-democracy groups and the EU declare the same principles and values. What is the EU supposed to press for?
Problems in relations between the European community and the Belarusian regime are linked to the fact that it is undemocratic and illegal in essence. It defies international treaties and the constitution, whereas the Belarusian opposition and the West share values and ideology.
ERB: You criticize Lukashenka for holding on to power. But the leaders of the UCP and other parties have not changed over the years like Lukashenka.
AL: You know, the president of Belarus appoints himself to this post, while the leaders of democratic organizations are elected in a democratic way. Margaret Thatcher served as prime minister and party leader for 17 years, and Helmut Kohl for 16 years. They held the posts because they were more competitive than others. This does not mean that there were no other politicians, or worthy politicians. It is because they were elected and recognized.
Our people think that being an opposition party leader is manna from heaven. It is not that simple.
Many politicians stay away from competition realizing that this is fraught with problems for them and their loved ones. There is nothing else you can get from the job.
Insiders know that this is a big problem because you are responsible for thousands of people. You are responsible for the functioning of the system, offices, the recruitment of candidates and activists. While financial opportunities are limited. We have to rely heavily on volunteers.
Photo: baj.by
ERB: Relations between the EU and Minsk have warmed lately. Has the West changed its attitude to the Belarusian opposition as well?
AL: A year or even ten years ago several opposition figures could outplay the whole Belarusian foreign office together with their Russian counterparts. Now the situation is changing and the United Pro-democratic Forces need to take a greater effort to be competitive and effective on the international scene. If we fail to do so, we may have problems on the international arena.
ERB: Do not you think the opposition is exhausted? The country's main problem may be the lack of a different opposition?
AL: The opposition has been on the frontline all these years and acted very effectively on the international scene. That is why Lukashenka's foreign ministry, Lukashenka and his government suffered humiliating defeats. But the current situation does not depend on certain leaders of political organizations.
International organizations believe that it is necessary to offer the Lukashenka regime as much of a chance as possible, to find at least a small opportunity for negotiations. This depends on purposes that the international community pursues, not on people in opposition.
ERB: Don't you think the regime wanted to change long ago, but was unwilling to do something that the opposition advised it to do. Now that it has a mediator, the EU, it has started to change?
AL: The government's policies change under the influence of external factors linked to the global financial crisis, which has affected us indirectly, through Russia, which is no longer as comfortable as before. Lukashenka's financial and economic position worsened lately. This is the main reason why Lukashenka started looking for partners, maybe temporary ones, in the West. Economic circumstances forced him to do so, not a change in his perception.
ERB: If the West offered the opposition an upgrade, would you be ready to quit and what would you do for living?
AL: If someone from the outside offered me to do something like that, I would flatly refuse because it would be an act of disrespect for the UCP and its members. Do you think that someone in Europe is cleverer, more experienced and educated than former Prime Minister Mikhail Chyhir, Alyaksandr Dabravolski, Valyantsina Palevikova, Stanislau Bahdankevich, who headed the National Bank, or former ministers Kazlouski and Sasnou?
The selection of leaders is the internal matter of this organization.
ERB: But can the EU force the opposition to change they way they forced the authorities? It may also set 12 conditions for the opposition?
AL: This is impossible because the pro-democracy groups and the EU declare the same principles and values. What is the EU supposed to press for?
Problems in relations between the European community and the Belarusian regime are linked to the fact that it is undemocratic and illegal in essence. It defies international treaties and the constitution, whereas the Belarusian opposition and the West share values and ideology.
ERB: You criticize Lukashenka for holding on to power. But the leaders of the UCP and other parties have not changed over the years like Lukashenka.
AL: You know, the president of Belarus appoints himself to this post, while the leaders of democratic organizations are elected in a democratic way. Margaret Thatcher served as prime minister and party leader for 17 years, and Helmut Kohl for 16 years. They held the posts because they were more competitive than others. This does not mean that there were no other politicians, or worthy politicians. It is because they were elected and recognized.
Our people think that being an opposition party leader is manna from heaven. It is not that simple.
Many politicians stay away from competition realizing that this is fraught with problems for them and their loved ones. There is nothing else you can get from the job.
Insiders know that this is a big problem because you are responsible for thousands of people. You are responsible for the functioning of the system, offices, the recruitment of candidates and activists. While financial opportunities are limited. We have to rely heavily on volunteers.
Photo: baj.by
