An interview of the Lithuanian Ambassador to
Belarus Edminas Bagdonas to www.eurobelarus.info
Q:
Mr. Ambassador, how would you evaluate the Eastern Partnership initiative and
participation of Belarus in it?
A: Lithuania warmly welcomes
and praises the Eastern Partnership. It was our initiative as well even though
it is called ‘a Polish-Swedish’ initiative. We believe this path is the right
one both politically and beneficially. The scope for cooperation between Belarus and the
European Union was approved in Prague. The Minsk official authorities
accepted the proposal of the European Union, as well as the civil society.
Therefore today the main issue is how it will function, what concrete measures
and steps will be made, what concrete content will be added to the signed
documents and declarations. The main issue now is how everything that was
signed would be put into practice.
Q:
What concrete directions of the cooperation of Belarus within the
Eastern Partnership Programme would be the primary interest of the neighbouring
Lithuania?
A:
Our major interest lies in the scope of stability in the region, to have a
stable situation in all areas. Energy stability is extremely important. Neither
you nor me may be independent, neither us, nor Lithuania or even Russia as separate
countries could be independent separately, including Europe itself. We
are all inter-linked. Our common goal is that all countries individually and Europe as a whole
were a predictable and stable region. The Eastern Partnership Programme touches
upon many infrastructural issues, issues of human resources, including visa
issues and energy security. Therefore the joint Declaration contains all of
them. One cannot state that the partner-countries of the Programme have
financial interests only. This Programme has very low funding. Indeed, 600
million Euro for the large territory of the six countries is not much really. However
our journey only starts. We should look for the ways of mutually beneficial cooperation.
There are a lot of opportunities for that.
Q:
Even though the Eastern Partnership Programme was not promising rapid
abolishment of the visa regime, Belarusians are greatly interested in the issue
of simplification of the Schengen visa procedures and primarily in the
reduction of their cost. It is not a secret that today the cost of Schengen
visas for Belarusians is 60 Euro which is significantly higher than for
Russians or Ukrainians (35 Euro). Whether there are any hopes for changes in
this regard?
A:
It is a pity that many people find the visa issue being the most important
within such cooperation. The most important is a will, the will to become
friends of the European community. It is a separate issue with what concrete
institutions. The issues of primary concern are strategic issues, while the
visa issue is secondary. If we reach agreement, if we understand one another,
the decision could be made rather fast.
What
concerns the Lithuanian Embassy, one quarter of the Schengen visas that we
issue to the Belarusian citizens are free of charge (for participants of
cultural, educational programmes, sportsmen, children). Lithuania has always
stood for the reduction of the visa cost, for simplification of the border
crossing for Belarusians. Therefore there is one very pleasant piece of news
for our Belarusian neighbours. On 12-14 June at the border between Lithuania and Belarus, on the
territory of the castle Narviliskis the third International Music Festival “Be2gether”
will take place. Traditionally thousands of Belarusians are eager to get there,
however the visa issue has been an obstacle for many. This year those citizens
of Belarus that purchase tickets for the Festival “Be2gether”, which means “Let’s
be together”, and address to the Lithuanian Embassy in this regard, would
receive their visas free of charge.
