Shall Belarus expect "defrosting" of relations with EU?
There appeared rumours about release of political prisoners during the visit of a high-ranked European official to Minsk.
On February, 9, EU’s
representative Gunnar Wiegand spoke with the leaders of the Belarusian
opposition and civil society after the meeting in the Belarusian Foreign
Ministry.
Vital Rymasheuski, who was
present at the meeting, shares his thoughts with Euroradio:
"I think that it is too
early to speak about the defrosting of the relationship. This visit is connected with
the declaration of the conditions under which the EU is ready to talk to the
Belarusian authorities. At present moment, it was
stated that the EU was still considering the democratic forces of Belarus and
civil society as a participant in the negotiations with the Belarusian
authorities. "
According to Vital
Rymasheuski, everything that was
announced does not go beyond the three-steps strategy of the united democratic
opposition. The strategy, besides, prescribes
release of political prisoners, a common plan to reform the Belarusian economy
and holding of free elections.
Vital Rymasheuski: "The
EU’s position does not contradict moral principles so far. It was also announced that the
Belarusian authorities might release some of the political prisoners in the
coming weeks, but this is only an opinion and not a clear promise of the
authorities. "
At the same time, political
analyst Ales Lahvinets believes that if the authorities release any of political prisoners it won’t be
someone famous. Such move is not likely to satisfy the European Union.
Ales Lahvinets: "I think
that the EU proposes to zero out those relationships that have been before. And the most important problem
is the existence of political prisoners. A concrete step is expected
from the Belarusian authorities. "
One of the issues discussed
during the meeting was the establishment of expert commissions, which should
focus on the transformation of the country in various fields. It is expected that they will
include representatives from both the opposition and the official Belarusian
authorities. In Ales Lahvinets’
opinion, creation of such commissions seems quite real.
Ales Lahvinets: "The
question is how strongly the authorities wish to do it, and whether they will
be capable of realizing the elaborated suggestions afterwards. Another question
is whether the government can establish a public dialogue without applying the
mechanisms of force”.
Let us remind you, Gunnar
Wiegand is the Head
of the European Commission's Unit for Relations with Russia as well as the
acting director for Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus, and Central Asia, in the
Commission's Directorate-General for External Relations and OSCE. It was him who announced the intention
to expand the EU's "list of banned Belarusian officials”, adding 135
persons to it, back on January 12.
Photo: mediamax.am