Belarus to take response measures to EU Council Conclusions

The EU Council Conclusions leave no other choice for Belarus as to take proportionate and appropriate measures with a view to strengthen the country’s sovereignty, safeguard the stability and cohesion of the Belarusian society, runs the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus on the adoption of the EU Council Conclusions on Belarus. The statement was voiced by Andrei Savinykh, Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, on 31 January, BelTA has learned.

“The Foreign Ministry of Belarus expresses its deep regret over the EU Council Conclusions of 31 January 2011. The decision is based on an outright hushing up of the aggressive actions and violence initiated by the demonstrators manifested in the attempt to take over the seat of the Government and the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus on 19 December 2010 following the presidential elections. The EU Council’s selective and biased interpretation of the findings of the international election observation in Belarus is meant to disregard the clearly expressed will of the Belarusian people. Neither of the two notions can change the objective facts. Such an attitude cannot produce the right conclusion,” Andrei Savinykh stressed.

“The logic behind the Council Conclusions paves the way to the EU’s direct interference into domestic affairs of a sovereign state. It undermines trust and inevitably leads to actions detrimental to the ambition of shaping a Europe free of dividing lines shared by both the East and the West of the continent,” Andrei Savinykh noted. “By creating artificial obstacles to interstate cooperation the European Union deprives itself of the possibility to contribute to social transformations in Belarus in a constructive manner. The outright attempt to justify the violation of law that a part of the opposition committed endangering public security appears in fact a promotion of lawlessness and extremism from abroad. This practice prevents public organizations from developing a responsible civic position based on national interests. This is hardly in line with the officially proclaimed goals of the European Union,” he stated.

According to Andrei Savinykh, “it is particularly unacceptable that the EU responds in an absolutely incomparable way to the by far tougher actions by the governments of certain other countries in Europe. The clear-cut “double standards” policy proves hollow the EU rhetoric in support of the “European values”.

“Tension in relations with the EU is not our choice. Nevertheless, the Council Conclusions compel the Republic of Belarus to take proportionate and appropriate measures with a view to strengthening the national sovereignty, safeguarding the stability and cohesion of the Belarusian society,” the official said.

In his words, Belarus calls on the European Union to abandon the confrontation rhetoric and hasty attempts to destroy the constructive essence of the bilateral relations that have no reasonable alternative.

Belarus will continue to pursue in a coherent and gradual manner modernization and reform of public institutions, development of social dialogue and civil society in line with the country’s needs.

“The pressure against Belarus has no other chance but to fail. Joint efforts to overcome the current difficulties in relations with the EU which emerged through no fault of the Belarusian authorities is in the common interests of Belarus and the EU and contribute to consolidation of the European unity in the face of new risks and challenges. We favor stronger partnership with the EU, an open, candid and respectful dialogue and equal cooperation without discrimination and “double standards”,” Andrei Savinykh said.

BelTA