On 21 October the first public consultations on “Belarus in the European Neighbourhood Programmes” took place in Vilnius. Representatives of diplomatic missions of the European Union countries, EU bodies, Lithuanian Seim Deputies, experts, representatives of Belarusian non-governmental organizations, human rights activists and scientists took part in the meeting. It is envisaged that such public hearings on Belarusian issue will take place in other European countries and the most recent one, on the 4th of November, in Poland and later on in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Vatslav Stankevich: “We would not like Belarus to distance from the European Union” Following an initiative put forward by Vatslav Stankevich (of a Belarusian origin by the way) at the Lithuanian Seim, a parliamentary group on relations with Belarus was set up three years ago and headed by Mr. Stankevich himself.
A Lithuanian Siem Deputy Vatslav Stankevich presented a report “Role of Belarus in the foreign policy of Lithuania”. He pointed out that he was very proud that Lithuania was also directly involved in improvement of relations between Belarus and the European Union. Lithuania, being the closest Belarusian neighbour, was expressing its official position in the European Union with regard to Belarus in the course of three years. “We have to maintain dialogue with both, the opposition and the authorities, that is a must. We should do so not just because the officials recently made certain concrete positive steps forward towards the European Union, which they have made indeed and I am very proud of that. We also have to realize that Belarus is a European country and if we do not maintain a dialogue with the official authorities, then, being a Lithuanian I am afraid that Lithuanians being the closest neighbours of Belarus would not like Belarus to be distanced from the European Union. We see it making friends with, sorry to say this, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea and we would not like to lose Belarus in this sense. Therefore while maintaining a dialogue with all, the opposition, the authorities and the civil society we would have an opportunity to involve Belarus into European processes and to encourage its relations with the European Union. It is very important for the Lithuanian government and for the Lithuanian Seim. We shall continue talks with our EU counterparts regarding maintaining contacts with both sides. Otherwise we may lose Belarus. And we do not want to ‘lose’ this wonderful country with rich history, culture and language”, said Mr. Stankevich.
Entire Europe is interested in its good and prosperous neighbour
A representative of the European Commission Office in Belarus, Janis Aizsalnieks made a presentation “European Union policy with regard to Belarus: moving towards cooperation and contradictions”. The Head of the political analysis department of the Centre for Eastern Europe Research, Laurinas Janavichus, talked about existing and wishful relations between Belarus and Europe. An Expert-consultant of the EU Neighbourhood Programme of the European Commission with regard to Belarus, Tatiana Pashavalava, talked about the role of the cooperation with the European Union for non-governmental organizations, a so-called “third sector”.
Representatives of diplomatic missions of the European Union countries were taking part in the discussion, including the Irish Ambassador in Lithuania, a representative of the Canadian Embassy in Lithuania, an attaché of the UK Embassy in Belarus and others.
U. Matskevich:“Belarus: a fifth wheel or a problem for the contemporary European policy?”
The Head of the Agency for Humanitarian Technologies and the Centre for Social Innovations, a political analyst Uladzimir Matskevich made a presentation in Vilnius “Belarus: a fifth wheel or a problem for the contemporary European policy?”In particular he pointed out that “it was very pleasant that ambassadors of foreign countries, coming from such remote from Belarus countries as Ireland and Canada, were interested in this meeting. We had a very substantial discussion without so-called “political correctness” on significant and keystone issues”. Mr. Matskevich believes that it was very important at the moment to stimulate and to encourage the dialogue on all levels, including high political level and various think tanks, NGOs, due to the fact that today’s situation in Belarus is rather complicated and it is perhaps challenging for Europe and those values that Europe is trying to spread and to settle inside. Belarus became a challenge for Europe in a sense as totally the reverse processes are taking place there. On one hand, in the society and on the other hand, once taking a look at the place of Belarus in the European community it still remains the only country that is not a member of the Council of Europe and has no relations and coordinated policy with the European Union and other European bodies”.
The new composition of the Lithuanian Parliament and the Lithuanian government: whether the attitude towards Belarus would change
Almost a month ago took place the Parliamentary elections in Belarus for the House of Representatives. This Sunday, a second round of parliamentary elections will take place in Lithuania. Whether that would affect the attitude of the Lithuanian Deputies towards Belarus? Vatslav Stankevich said in this regard: “We still don’t know who would form the ruling coalition in the Lithuanian Seim and who will be forming the Lithuanian government. Perhaps, those would be conservatives, perhaps social democrats, however there will be no cardinal shifts. Because for both, the Conservatives and the Social Democrats, as well as for the representatives of other political parties, the strategic goal remains common: it is very important for them to retain Belarus as a sovereign independent country with its own language and culture. Today Lithuania is extremely interested in having a stable, prosperous and sovereign neighbouring country”.
Only dialogue as opposite of resolutions and statements
In the opinion of the Lithuanian Seim Deputy, Vatslav Stankevich, the European Union and Lithuania are looking forward to further positive steps of the Belarusian authorities, i.e. freedom of the Media, seizing pressure on the oppositional political parties and non-governmental organizations. However Europe and the EU also have to make following steps forward with regard to the Belarusian authorities. However also bearing in mind the opposition, the Head of the Parliamentary group on relations with Belarus of the Lithuanian Seim, Vatslav Stankevich underlined, “Belarusian opposition is still very important for us. However a dialogue with both the authorities and the opposition is important too. Positive changes may only be achieved via a dialogue. If we continue our talks using resolutions and statements, we will not achieve any results”.
Vatslav Stankevich: “We would not like
