Uladzimir Matskevich: The EEU is utter nonsense, but any union with Russia is dangerous for Belarus

First of all, long-term development might slow down, if not fully stop.

Last week the EurAsEC ceased to exist. The participants of the Minsk Summit changed it to a different one with a similar abbreviation – Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). In this relation a lot of declamatory words were said about the appearance of the new world powerful economic centre, which is to bring the economies of the post-Soviet countries to new heights.

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, is skeptical about the optimism of those who created a new integration project.

- Let’s agree at the beginning that this is utter nonsense, - emphasized Matskevich in the interview with the “EuroBelarus” Information Service. – Longstanding attempts to assemble some sort on unity from the pieces of the Soviet Union were unsuccessful so far. The CIS turned to be unlivable; several attempts of all sorts of unions between Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Russia – three main integrators at the post-Soviet area –never turned to be a success. The Union State of Russia and Belarus is not working, the Customs Union, which was forced to Ukraine and Armenia, also turned to be unlivable. Now its name is being changed; however, its essence remains the same. Besides, we don’t know any other principally different grounds for establishing this new economic union; I think they just don’t exist. We only have demagogy, eloquence, all sorts of speculations, and fear – both in Moscow and in Minsk. And we also have an extremely difficult situation among Central Asian countries. Being cut off from centers of civilization, they can’t develop normally.

On the one hand, Uladzimir Matskevich notes, the access to the European civilized center is geographically blocked by Russia, while China is not quite interested in including these countries into the game at the Asian area.

- So these countries either have to orient at uniting with the two countries – Turkey (on the ground of pan-Turkism), or with Russia (on the grounds of Russian ideology, Russian geopolitical stand, interests, etc.) This is not very appealing; however, Central Asian countries have no other way out, as Turkey can’t suggest anything better in terms of economy, as it is much weaker than Moscow.

- We can also say that Ukraine added to “burying” a new Moscow’s project, can’t we?

-Of course, falling under sanctions, Moscow found itself in a very difficult economic situation, in the international isolation. I think that this regular attempt doesn’t solve Russia’s economic problems in any way, but demonstrates alleged geopolitical successes. But actually, Russia won’t overcome world isolation with this union, as the leaders of the countries gave a very reserved answer to Putin’s suggestion to elaborate common stance regarding Russia-Ukraine conflict. No one really wants to hold with Russia in this conflict.

- A number of political parties and public associations in Belarus made standing remarks about the threat to the country’s independence. If the project is yet another fiction, so what should we worry about?

- You see, when back in 1998 a Treaty on formation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus was signed, it was clear that this union is unlivable. But on the other hand, we shouldn’t relax and underestimate its threats and dangers. That is why even if we realize that there are no new ideas, no new grounds for this yet another empty union, it doesn’t mean that we can lose vigilance and ignore the threats that come from Russia towards Belarus’ sovereignty and general development. Russia is artificially and purposefully suppresses the economic and political development of post-Soviet countries. Thus, any union with Russia is a threat for Belarus’ economic and even political sovereignty, which creates a big damage for the country’s perspective development. The closer our union with Russia is, the more we lag behind in our development. And we have to understand that, even though it might be hard to get this idea for average Belarusan citizens. But the threats are obvious – the union with Russia means delay, retardation of our development up to its full stop. Even Russia itself turned into a raw materials-producing appendage for the developed countries – and post-Soviet countries can’t count on any progress in union with Russia.