Friday 29 March 2024 | 06:37

Ulad Vialichka: Explosions in Brussels look like revenge for the arrests of terrorists

28.03.2016  |  In the World   |  Aliaksei Jurych,  EuroBelarus
Ulad Vialichka: Explosions in Brussels look like revenge for the arrests of terrorists

Unfortunately, the attacks in Madrid, London, Paris, and Brussels haven’t developed an antidote to terrorist threats in the European security system.

Explosions in Brussels that happened in the morning of March 22 agitated not only Belgium, but also the whole of Europe. It turned out that the capital of the European Union was too vulnerable when facing the threat of terrorist attacks, which will certainly cause a reaction. It’s hard to predict what the Belgium’s and the EU’s reaction to a new wave of terrorist attacks will be.

During the attack in Brussels a delegation of the Belarusian opposition happened to be there, who flew to the Euronest Parliamentary Session. No one from this delegation was injured - Maelbeek metro station is a stone's throw away from the European Parliament, where the Belarus Committee meeting started at 10 am on 22 March.

Ulad Vialichka, the co-chair of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Steering Committee, also happened to be at the scene. Ulad Vialichka shared his first emotions, reasons and possible consequences of the attacks with the “EuroBelarus” Information Service.

- What effect did explosions in Brussels – the actual capital of the European Union – produce?

- Brussels has experienced a real shock: the tragedy happened in the morning on a weekday. The city got immediately flooded with police and military men with machine guns; the attacks took place when the police was already on the alert. A series of attacks, of course, has instantly reflected on the life of the city: the number of people on the streets has significantly decreased, whereas Brussels is always full of people: citizens, tourists, and visitors, who come on business.

I haven’t noticed any panic; the city faced the tragedy quite courageously. I was amazed by the simultaneousness and solidarity, with which the whole Belgium revered the memory of the victims with the minute's silence the next day.

During the terrorist attacks in Brussels a lot of Belarusians happened to be there. One of the explosions occurred in the Maelbeek metro station, which is very close to the European Parliament, where the session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly started. At 10 am the Belarus Committee meeting was to start in the European Parliament, while explosions occurred an hour before the meeting. Judging by Uladzimir Niakliaeu’s posts on Facebook, hardly he went out from the Maelbeek station that the explosion in the subway occurred.

- Why it was Brussels that became the target of terrorists? They say that terrorists were preparing an attack on a nuclear power plant, but the arrest of an organizer of the Paris terrorist attacks forced the militants to hurry.

- Brussels is one of the major terrorist bases, one can say, their headquarters. We know that it was in Brussels where the Paris attacks were prepared.

Besides, Brussels is the capital of the European Union, and all the events taking place in the capital of Europe, are treated differently.

The attacks looked quite spontaneous; the explosions in Brussels look like revenge for the arrests of terrorists. We haven’t yet encountered situations where explosions happen in the city where the police are already on the alert. The situation is unusual, but, unfortunately, the terrorist attacks turned out to be possible. I was amazed because I was leaving Brussels on Thursday morning from the central station – there was no control at the entrance to the train station early in the morning, only after one and a half days after the bombings.

- How will the terrorist attacks affect the life of the European Union? Could a new round of terror lead to a revision of immigration policy?

- The terrorists were Belgium citizens, which indicates that it is not the migration flows that are the reasons for the attacks. The real reasons are still to be found. Of course, the terrorist attacks will affect the life of Belgium in the next few months: they will have to live with it, and look for an antidote to terrorism. It seems to me that the way of life of the Belgians is that they it’s hard for them to abandon the usual freedoms and the usual lifestyle. However, the usual freedom is now at odds with security issues. For now it is difficult to judge to what changes will Brussels attacks lead.

Such events pour oil on the flames of all right-wing groups, which will try to use the situation in their political rhetoric at the time of the election. We already see a wave of right-wing parties that are winning at the election, which is confirmed by the elections in Slovakia. Of course, terrorism will be one of the factors of European policy, which won’t play in migrants’ favor.

- What are the forces behind the terrorist attacks? For example, Vladimir Zhirinovsky is openly happy with the death of Europeans and claims that terrorist attacks in Brussels are useful for Russia.

- I don’t think that we should look for a Russian trace in the Brussels terrorist attacks. However, foolish TV statements of people, who have neither sympathy nor brains, are working against Russia itself. Events in Brussels are still mostly associated with Islamic radicalism; ISIS took responsibility for the attack. Taking into account the threats announced by ISIS, the issue of security is a long-term one and requires long-term solutions. It isn’t clear what the European Union will answer to these challenges. European security at the airports, at the stations, and in all public places is very vulnerable. We have survived Madrid, London, and Paris, and Brussels – but it’s not clear yet that the European security system generates an antidote to the terrorist threat.

Other news section «In the World»

Uladzimir Matskevich: Trump has a sword of Damocles hanging above his head
Uladzimir Matskevich: Trump has a sword of Damocles hanging above his head
The hacking scandal is directed against Trump and sows doubts in the legitimacy of his victory.
Cultural heritage as a key to civic participation. CHOICE project in Ukraine
Cultural heritage as a key to civic participation. CHOICE project in Ukraine
Within the activities of the EU-funded CHOICE, Ihor Savcha, Centre for Cultural Management, visited Albertyna Buchynska and Roman Tarnavsky, Coordinators of the activities in Boryslav (Ukraine).
Hovsep Khurshudyan: Release of political prisoners is the main task of the civil society
Hovsep Khurshudyan: Release of political prisoners is the main task of the civil society
Dozens of activists remain in Armenian prisons, the police carries out political orders of the ruling elite, stresses a representative of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum released on bail.
Uladzimir Matskevich: Crimean provocation only drew attention to the relocations of Russian troops
Uladzimir Matskevich: Crimean provocation only drew attention to the relocations of Russian troops
Russia has no opportunities, i.e., no intent to unleash a full-scale war against Ukraine; but the destabilization of the situation in the country remains one of its main goals.
Vladimir Fesenko: If Russia was looking for an excuse, the war with Ukraine would have already begun
Vladimir Fesenko: If Russia was looking for an excuse, the war with Ukraine would have already begun
Ukraine doesn’t want to force a conflict; Kyiv and the West will most likely try to neutralize the current aggravation of Russian-Ukrainian relations.
Lithuania: Belarusian airplane violated the Lithuanian airspace
Lithuania: Belarusian airplane violated the Lithuanian airspace
Lithuania claims that the Belarusian airplane has violated its airspace.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Belarus won’t be able to sell electric power from the dangerous NPP
Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Belarus won’t be able to sell electric power from the dangerous NPP
Minsk should not deceive itself with hopes for joint operation the would-be Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravets, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said on Friday.
Uladzimir Matskevich: The situation in Armenia is as tense as it can be
Uladzimir Matskevich: The situation in Armenia is as tense as it can be
The revolt – social explosion – in Armenia is quite possible; however, it is not Sasna Tsrer actions that will work as a detonator.
Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan: Nomenclature games can lead to sharp change of political situation in Armenia
Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan: Nomenclature games can lead to sharp change of political situation in Armenia
The confrontation of several forces in Yerevan is a no-win, and tends to worsen, the head of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the publicist Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan says.
Hovsep Khurshudyan: Sasna Tsrer group isn’t terrorist, but a response to the political mayhem of the state
Hovsep Khurshudyan: Sasna Tsrer group isn’t terrorist, but a response to the political mayhem of the state
On July 17, an armed group seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan. First National Security Service reported about "an armed group", then – "terrorists"
Attack in Nice: At least 84 people killed on a national holiday – Bastille Day
Attack in Nice: At least 84 people killed on a national holiday – Bastille Day
In Nice, at about 10.30 pm yesterday local time a truck slammed into a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day and barrelled about 2 km.
EU extends sanctions against Russia for another 6 months at the least
Russia removed food embargo against Western countries
Russia removed food embargo against Western countries
The import of poultry meat, beef and vegetables, which are used for the production of baby food, is now allowed.
EHU Senate demands to immediately withdraw David Pollick and A. Lonsdale
EHU Senate demands to immediately withdraw David Pollick and A. Lonsdale
Following its meeting on May 25, the Senate of the European Humanities University (EHU) has approved the following Statement.
Uladzimir Matskevich: I
Uladzimir Matskevich: I'm afraid that Nadzeya Savchenko was too fast with her presidential ambitions
Savchenko’s attempts to oppose Poroshenko right now, not at the forthcoming elections, will only be beneficial for Kremlin.
Sergey Datsyuk: Savchenko is a Ukrainian Joan of Arc, capable of leading people
Sergey Datsyuk: Savchenko is a Ukrainian Joan of Arc, capable of leading people
Society attributes the role of a troublemaker to Savchenko, who won’t let the country stay oligarchical and calm.
European Commission allocates EUR 550 mln for Chernobyl projects
European Commission allocates EUR 550 mln for Chernobyl projects
This year we commemorate 30 years from the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Belarus rather risks its relations with Armenia than supports Russia’s growing role in the region
Belarus rather risks its relations with Armenia than supports Russia’s growing role in the region
About two weeks ago, on April 2, intensive clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh happened. Belarus’ reaction to it left Armenia deeply bewildered.
Lithuanian border guards intend to detain illegal migrants on the border with Belarus
Lithuanian border guards intend to detain illegal migrants on the border with Belarus
On April 12-13, Lithuanian border guards are holding a tactical exercise on the border with Belarus. The game is aimed at improving the staff skills to detaining illegal migrants.
Uladzimir Matskevich: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict today is of no use either to Armenia or Azerbaijan
Uladzimir Matskevich: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict today is of no use either to Armenia or Azerbaijan
By participating in all military and economic blocks with Russia, the Belarusian regime is trying to build the image of a neutral country and a peacemaker.
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.