Uladzimir Matskevich: Ukrainian events have allowed Belarusans to take a view at themselves

The external events that touched upon Belarus in 2013 made Belarusans think about the situation in their own country.

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, summed up the results of the civil society developments in 2013.

- We can say that 2013 was completely unremarkable; rather boring and routine. And it is rather hard to sum up the results of the previous year, when we didn’t manage to make any new discoveries.

However, the external events that touched upon Belarus in 2013 made Belarusans think about the situation in their own country. Dynamics of EaP development that gave us hope that Ukraine will sign the Association Agreement with the EU, could give additional impetus to the EaP development. Unfortunately, it never happened; however, these events caused rapid surge of civil society activation in Ukraine. We should also mention high level of self-organization of the civil society in Ukraine. And opposition, leaders and traditional NGO didn’t play very significant role in this process.

Ukrainian situation showed: neither the opposition, nor bureaucratized NGOs represent Ukrainian civil society. Ukrainian events have allowed Belarusans to take a view at themselves, which is, perhaps, the main result of the year.

- But did the Belarusan National Platform in 2013 experience any surges and falls at all?

- We can, of course, analyse the dynamics of the National Platform development. It was formed in an attempt to break away from conventional development of the civil society. I wouldn’t call this attempt a failure, though it did cause certain stop in the development. For now National Platform is involved in more routine problems, such as inner strengthening and development. But National Platform will soon show its worth.

- Does it mean that the attempt of the National Platform to take its place at the political landscape failed?

- I would rephrase it; from the point of organizational development, National Platform leaves the civil society structures behind. Civil society is not ready for such development forms yet.

On the other hand, we should seek mutual understanding, and try to find common ground between grassroot organizations, civil society representatives and National Platform.

- We all are entering 2014; what about the forecasts?

- I am always sceptical about the forecasts, which do not work in humanitarian and social spheres. Everything depends on how the civil society reacts on the situation and events that are happening, whether it will be able to be objective, to step aside from naïve optimism and rather work seriously.

The processes in the economic, political and social sphere are developing unequally, which sometimes causes chaotic picture.

A lot depends on how the public opinion is going to be developed. We should set aside everything archaic and stupid and move forward.

- What will your wishes to the “EuroBelarus” readers in the new 2014 year be?

- I wish everyone concentration, thoughtfulness and responsibility. It is 30 years already that have passed since independent Belarus was formed. Belarus is getting mature, so we should learn a lot and try to understand a lot.

And I would wish everyone to be more conscientious!