Will Belarus face Europe's economic blockade?
MEP Jacek Protasiewicz recently warned the Belarusian authorities that EU could soon introduce sanctions against the official Minsk. However, he would not elaborate on the details of the possible sanctions. Belarus's senator Mikalai Charhinets is confident that sanctions would only strengthen the country. The European Radio for Belarus brings you the views of people in Belarus as regards a possible "threat" from the West.
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Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party and one of the leaders of the United Pro-Democracy Forces, does not rule out that Europe could follow the United States by introducing economic sanctions against Belarus. The harm caused by such moves of the European Union could not be repaired with the help of president's friend Hugo Chavez or Arab sheikh who do not rush to invest their money in the Belarusian economy despite a showed-off friendship.
Anatol Lyabedzka: “This situation is even more threatening than the sanctions imposed by Washington. The volume of our trade with the US is just around 1 percent against over 40 percent with EU. Economic sanctions by Europe could lead to a serious economic crisis inside the country. Whether sanactions are introduced or not depends on Lukashenka. If he continues to treat brutally his opponents inside the country and to ignore international obligations signed by Belarus officials, the situation could eventually end up with sanctions”.
International relations observer Roman Yakovlevsky also does not rule out the possibility of economic sanctions from the European Union. However, he warns that one should not expect a rapid decision from the European Parliament with the members from 27 countries. The interests of certain countries do not sometimes coincide on certain issues. But he noted that the statement itself about possible sanctions proves the birth of the Euro-Atlantic alliance against the regime in Belarus.
Roman Yakovlevsky: “As for the general sanctions, mandatory for all the EU member states, they are not possible as of today. But the level of solidarity of the position as regards the ruling regime in Belarus will be growing, including the issue of sanctions. It might include banks, state corporations and private businesses which will be advised not to cooperate with the Belarusian regime”.
Former speaker of the Belarus's Supreme Council Stanislau Shushkevich does not share the views that members of the European Union will take a lot of time to decide whether to impose any sanctions against Belarus. In his view, European deputies have a very good understanding of what is going on in Belarus and they have a consensus in their judgement of the actions by the Belarusian authorities.
Stanislau Shushkevich: “They are very well aware of what is taking place in Belarus. Therefore, I don't think that it will be as much delayed as it happens with the administration in Brussels. The situation there is totally different. I believe that the European Parliament can become a very dynamic body”.
The politician has a proposition how to make the Belarusian authorities listen to the views of the democratic world. He says it is necessary to "request" the Kremlin in a harsh form to stop supporting the Belarusian dictatorship.
Stanislau Shushkevich: “One needs to tell these guardians of the Belarusian regime, our big eastern brother, their government and parliamentary structures that it is enough to support the dictatorship. But I am afraid that the European Parliament will not say that”.
Mikalai Charhinets who chairs the Foreign Relations and National Security Committee at the Council of the Republic says one should not even pay attention to any threats of sanctions.
Mikalai Charhinets: “He is not the first gentleman who woke up I don't know where and decided to shout like a cock about some sanctions. Unfortunately, he is not the last. But let them analyze how many critics and how many calls for sanctions have already been there. What have theyr changed in Belarus? Belarus has continued growing stronger instead”.
In the word of the senator, Belarusians "grow their bread and meat and milk themselves. Therefore, they cannot be intimindated with sanctions". The Belarusian authorities are ready to resolve controversial issues through a dialogue.
Mikalai Charhinets: “We are for a dialogue and ready to provide any explanations or talk on any topic and express our view and listen to the views of our partners. If they are useful and acceptable for us, we will be grateful for and advice, but not in a form of ultimatum".
When asked about a possible retaliation to possible sanctions, the senator proposes an adequate measure: to bar them from entering Belarus.
Mikalai Charhinets: “We will demand our leadership to treat the members of the European Parliament in the same way. We will turn the red lights on before they attempt to come to Belarus”.
The European Radio for Belarus recalled the situation with Donald Tusk, the then member of the Polish parliament, when he was denied entrance to Belarus. Some time later, Tusk became Polish prime minister. The Belarusian politician responded to this by saying that he likes Tusk's actions at the post of the prime minister. Charhinets noted that Tusk has allegedly changed greatly and has been taking right decisions. He would not elaborate on that. Perhaps, he meand Poland's "green card" for the Polish minority in Belarus? At any rate, Charhinets maintains that deprivation of the right to visit Belarus will have a positive impact on the views of Western politicians.
* * *
Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party and one of the leaders of the United Pro-Democracy Forces, does not rule out that Europe could follow the United States by introducing economic sanctions against Belarus. The harm caused by such moves of the European Union could not be repaired with the help of president's friend Hugo Chavez or Arab sheikh who do not rush to invest their money in the Belarusian economy despite a showed-off friendship.
Anatol Lyabedzka: “This situation is even more threatening than the sanctions imposed by Washington. The volume of our trade with the US is just around 1 percent against over 40 percent with EU. Economic sanctions by Europe could lead to a serious economic crisis inside the country. Whether sanactions are introduced or not depends on Lukashenka. If he continues to treat brutally his opponents inside the country and to ignore international obligations signed by Belarus officials, the situation could eventually end up with sanctions”.
International relations observer Roman Yakovlevsky also does not rule out the possibility of economic sanctions from the European Union. However, he warns that one should not expect a rapid decision from the European Parliament with the members from 27 countries. The interests of certain countries do not sometimes coincide on certain issues. But he noted that the statement itself about possible sanctions proves the birth of the Euro-Atlantic alliance against the regime in Belarus.
Roman Yakovlevsky: “As for the general sanctions, mandatory for all the EU member states, they are not possible as of today. But the level of solidarity of the position as regards the ruling regime in Belarus will be growing, including the issue of sanctions. It might include banks, state corporations and private businesses which will be advised not to cooperate with the Belarusian regime”.
Former speaker of the Belarus's Supreme Council Stanislau Shushkevich does not share the views that members of the European Union will take a lot of time to decide whether to impose any sanctions against Belarus. In his view, European deputies have a very good understanding of what is going on in Belarus and they have a consensus in their judgement of the actions by the Belarusian authorities.
Stanislau Shushkevich: “They are very well aware of what is taking place in Belarus. Therefore, I don't think that it will be as much delayed as it happens with the administration in Brussels. The situation there is totally different. I believe that the European Parliament can become a very dynamic body”.
The politician has a proposition how to make the Belarusian authorities listen to the views of the democratic world. He says it is necessary to "request" the Kremlin in a harsh form to stop supporting the Belarusian dictatorship.
Stanislau Shushkevich: “One needs to tell these guardians of the Belarusian regime, our big eastern brother, their government and parliamentary structures that it is enough to support the dictatorship. But I am afraid that the European Parliament will not say that”.
Mikalai Charhinets who chairs the Foreign Relations and National Security Committee at the Council of the Republic says one should not even pay attention to any threats of sanctions.
Mikalai Charhinets: “He is not the first gentleman who woke up I don't know where and decided to shout like a cock about some sanctions. Unfortunately, he is not the last. But let them analyze how many critics and how many calls for sanctions have already been there. What have theyr changed in Belarus? Belarus has continued growing stronger instead”.
In the word of the senator, Belarusians "grow their bread and meat and milk themselves. Therefore, they cannot be intimindated with sanctions". The Belarusian authorities are ready to resolve controversial issues through a dialogue.
Mikalai Charhinets: “We are for a dialogue and ready to provide any explanations or talk on any topic and express our view and listen to the views of our partners. If they are useful and acceptable for us, we will be grateful for and advice, but not in a form of ultimatum".
When asked about a possible retaliation to possible sanctions, the senator proposes an adequate measure: to bar them from entering Belarus.
Mikalai Charhinets: “We will demand our leadership to treat the members of the European Parliament in the same way. We will turn the red lights on before they attempt to come to Belarus”.
The European Radio for Belarus recalled the situation with Donald Tusk, the then member of the Polish parliament, when he was denied entrance to Belarus. Some time later, Tusk became Polish prime minister. The Belarusian politician responded to this by saying that he likes Tusk's actions at the post of the prime minister. Charhinets noted that Tusk has allegedly changed greatly and has been taking right decisions. He would not elaborate on that. Perhaps, he meand Poland's "green card" for the Polish minority in Belarus? At any rate, Charhinets maintains that deprivation of the right to visit Belarus will have a positive impact on the views of Western politicians.
