Andrei Kazakevich: Belarusan opposition in Brussels is acquiring systemic features

Invitation to the Euronest session sent to the representatives of the Belarusan opposition parties provides them with the possibility to influence the EU policies towards Belarus.

Such opinion in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service expressed Andrei Kazakevich, the director of the Institute for Policy Studies Palіtychnaya Sphera (Political Sphere).

Let us recall that the representatives of six Belarusan opposition organizations (the BPF Party, the United Civil Party, Belarusian Left Party "A Just World", Movement for Freedom, “Tell the Truth!” campaign and organizing committee for the Belarusian Christian Democracy) are invited at the events of the Euronest session that is to take place on May 28-29 in Brussels. At the same time, no one of the Belarusan parliamentarians received an official invitation to Brussels.

Commenting upon the given situation, Andrei Kazakevich explained that Belarus and Europe are playing in both directions. “On the one hand, we receive certain hints signaling that the dialog with the Belarusan authorities is opening. Still, Europe can’t show that the opposition is neglected and that Europe abandons its principles and promises given after the events of December 2010. Such steps defuse the problems, as certain development of relations with the opposition is going on at the same time as new contacts with the Belarusan authorities are established”, - Andrei Kazakevich described the situation.

Europe is indifferent to promises

Can the decision to invite Belarusan opposition to the Euronest session be the answer to the claims of the Belarusan authorities about their firm invariable policies?

Andrei Kazakevich noted that it is sooner a question of the EU’s common strategy towards Belarus than the reaction to some concrete statements. Such strategy is designed to demonstrate that the opposition is the partner and the political player in the eyes of Europe, too. In this way certain scathing actions of the Belarusan authorities are restrained. Europe is giving a hint that in case Belarus steps out of the processes to mend relations, Europe starts more active cooperation with the political opposition and the civil society.

“European politicians remain indifferent to all kinds of statements, as they understand the specifics of Belarusan regime, when words mean practically nothing”, - the political scientist noted.

Not the people who only represent their interests

This way or another invitation to the session of Euronest provides Belarusan opposition with a number of opportunities. “This is exactly the thing many Belarusan politicians were seeking for a long time, - Andrei Kazakevich recalled. – This event won’t automatically result in real change, such as redistribution of financial resources or greater actual influence on European political processes. However, for the most part, the opposition gets a considerable official platform that permits an nearly equal dialog with the parliamentarians and politicians from the EU and Eastern Partnership countries”.

Thus, great opportunities to inflict certain contacts, make your opinion heard and get involved in some processes connected with the creation of the European foreign policy are opened for the Belarusan opposition activists, the expert noted.

Besides, such invitation means that opposition is becoming systemic and abandons its marginality. “When the opposition gets included to such structures it automatically stops being left out of system, and then a legitimate political player is formed”, - Andrei Kazakevich added.

Still the expert found the question concerning the ways for the Belarusan opposition to use the opening opportunities hard to answer: “It depends much on the goals set by each political party and each prominent political figure. And in accordance with these goals the actions can differ”.