Rouda: Rigone’s visit is good, but it will change nothing

Vladimir Rouda, a renowned Belarusian political scientist, positively estimates the very fact of the Official Report-Maker of PACE A.Rigone’s visit to Belarus. At the same time he thinks that Lukashenka benefits from such visits more, than Europe, so the West should take a stricter stance towards the Belarusian authorities.

“The visit itself is good. This is what our opposition, who are still unable to cooperate, should do, but the authorities are already actively working on that dialogue. It is obvious that Belarus shouldn’t stay isolated from Europe”, – mentioned Rouda in an interview to AFN. 

“All this, generally speaking, is just empty words. They dominate in all these visits, because in fact almost nothing is done. The situation remains the same”, – says the expert. “Lukashenka organizes privatization of those objects, he wants to privatize without any open auctions or tenders. It can’t be called a breakthrough in market economy. Europe should’ve taken a stricter position: stimulate the privatization moves, of course, but at the same time make them more civilized”, – explained Rouda.

“To make all that occur within the limits of some laws, regulations, some kind of democratic state, if the use of such term is possible – of course, we don’t have it (democratic state) yet, but we should try to reach it”, – explained the scientist. He’s sure that the regime has to do something actual, before receiving any kind of preferences, mentioning that the regime benefits from such visits.

“In general, Lukashenka gains more from such visits than Europe. He creates an image as if he is going to reform something. Though he’s not going to reform anything neither in economy, nor in politics, – stated Rouda. – It is also a propaganda advantage in the relations with Russia. Lukashenka has an opportunity to say that if you (Russia) don’t give us preferences, I (Lukashenka) will start seriously cooperating with Europe”.

“We stay in Europe, so they just have to accept it. I think, this visit will have its results. Europe is a very bureaucratized mechanism of decision-making. Europe needs to preserve the status quo and stability in the region, so this will last for long”, – concluded Vladimir Rouda.

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