Uladzimir Matskevich: The head of the EU Delegation to Belarus abuses her powers

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Campaign for recalling the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus Maira Mora gathers momentum.

The head of Östgruppen Martin Uggla initiated the dismissal of Maira Mora, the Head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, though reproaches in her address were voiced a year ago. The former head of Lithuanian diplomacy Audronius Ažubalis supported the demand of the head of Östgruppen to recall the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus because her “trust limit” is exhausted.

A number of Belarusan opposition structures also supported the suggestion of the Swedish human rights defendant.

Should we torpedo the dismissal of the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus Maira Mora? Is the diplomat able to put forward EU’s interests in Belarus?

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus “, shared his point of view with the “EuroBelarus” Information Service.

- Are you voting for or against Maira Mora’s dismissal?

- You see, Maira Mora’s recall should be put to a question – that’s what I was telling in my interviews last September. Back then I formulated it in the following way.

Either Maira Mora gives a speech at the Belarusan TV calling for the Belarusan citizens to support the President, which won’t correspond to her status as the diplomat, which she as the EU plenipotentiary to Belarus is. In this case European External Action Service is to take corresponding measures re the diplomat that exceeds her powers.

Or the statements of Maira Mora correspond to the newest EU policy towards Belarus, and in this case European Commission has to announce that officially. I am convinced that Brussels should clarify this matter. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

I am not a EU citizen so I can’t vote for or against and cannot even put up this question, this is the affairs of the EU citizens and European civil society. I can only welcome civic act of Martin Uggla.

- The head of the EU representative office is accused of support of the Belarusan regime and Lukashenka personally. As the former head of Lithuanian diplomacy Audronius Ažubalis stated, her “trust limit” is exhausted. Where specifically did pro-state position of the European diplomat reveal itself?

- First, any diplomat has their own opinion, but in contrast to a common citizen a diplomat has restrictions for statements of their own opinion; they are called for voicing and announcing the position of the government of the country or the international organization that appointed them, especially if the diplomat is an Ambassador or a representative of the international organization equal to an Ambassador.

Secondly, diplomats have influence and significance in the country where they serve, but they are not citizens of that country. I.e. they can exert influence of the situation in this country, but diplomatic status and diplomatic ethics limit these possibilities and even prohibit diplomats to use them.

Mere approval or disapproval of the government’s or President’s actions in the country of stay is realization of influence of a different country on the affairs of this country, whereas call to Belarusan citizens to support or non support the President is the direct intervention of the diplomat in the country’s internal affairs and should be considered as abuse of authority. If Maira Mora called Belarusans not to support the President live it would cause the most decisive actions of the Belarusan Foreign Ministry up to announcing her persona non grata. Call for support of the President is an analogous action even though of the opposite direction. Accordingly, Maira Mora’s management, i.e. European Commission and European Parliament should have taken measures. However, official Brussels was silent.

I have other complaints to Maira Mora at the position of the EU representative, but they cannot be a sufficient ground for expressing distrust. It’s my personal stance or the stance of those organizations that I can represent. Thus, I have grounds to think that Maira Mora is partially informing European Commission about the situation in Belarus. And Audronius Ažubalis’s opinion only proves my fears.

- After all, Maira Mora is conducting Brussels’ policy. Substitution of the person, who represents EU policy won’t lead to changes in this policy.

- Absence of Brussels’ reaction to the actions of its Ambassador during 8-9 months speaks volumes. European Commission cannot officially admit the change of its policy towards Belarus since it would be understood and approved neither by the European Parliament nor by the citizens of those countries that are interested in Belarus’ democratization and development of neighborhood policy.

And even now, I don’t think that Martin Uggla’s address will immediately lead to Maira Mora’s dismissal. Brussels is mitigating its policy re the regime, and that is why it doesn’t even notice the abuse of power by its Ambassador. Europe is dodging.

- What qualities should the head of the EU Delegation have and what policy should it conduct in concrete Belarusan situation?

- You know, I would say laugh off this question saying, “Diplomat should be diplomatic!” As to the rest, diplomat shouldn’t be alien to anything human. Personally, I find Swedish and Ukrainian Ambassadors, Stefan Erikson and Roman Bezsmertnyi to be good friends of Belarus and of our people. They are good people who do their work greatly. But a great person is not a profession; so Ambassadors should just professionally perform their duties.