Bruce Bucknell: Belarus-EU relations are gradually, slowly improving

“We don’t want some abrupt changes. We would like to see stable improvement. It’s not the right moment for strong pressure,” the diplomat said.

Belarus remains a tightly controlled country, but it is moving closer to Europe, UK Ambassador Bruce Bucknell, whose diplomatic term expires on January 15, said in an interview with BelaPAN.

“That is why there should be improvements in the area of human rights and democracy,” he said. “Of course, the more freedom, the better, but this is a gradual, step-by-step process in any event.”

Mr. Bucknell described Belarus’ accession to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) last year as a “great success,” a “sign of progress” and a “ray of hope.” He warned that Belarus should “measure up to certain requirements” if it “views itself as a European country and wants to join European institutions,” including the Council of Europe.

However, the most important achievement for all EU diplomatic missions is the improvement of relations between Minsk and Brussels, Mr. Bucknell said. “Our relations are gradually, slowly improving,” he said. “Of course, this is a process. Diplomacy is an endless process.”

Europe was obviously pleased with the release of the political prisoners in August 2015 and with the fact that October’s presidential election passed off peacefully, Mr. Bucknell said. Now Europe is waiting for the final report of the election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), he said. Naturally, relations between Belarus and EU would further improve if the Office’s recommendations were fulfilled, political parties were granted more freedom and a moratorium on the execution of prisoners was declared, he said.

Mr. Bucknell emphasized that such improvements could only result from a gradual process of reengagement. “We warmly welcome the direction in which Belarus is moving and would like this movement to continue,” he said. “We don’t want some abrupt changes. We would like to see stable improvement. It’s not the right moment for strong pressure.”

When asked about the likely outcome of an upcoming EU vote on restrictive measures against Belarusian authorities, Mr. Bucknell replied that it was too early to talk about the decision to be made by EU foreign ministers at the end of February. “Whether the EU will abolish the measures, restore them or prolong their suspension will depend on the OSCE/ODIHR observers’ report and the situation in Belarus,” he said.

When asked about the Russian airbase that it plans to deploy in Belarus, the diplomat said that he doesn’t know “whether Russia really needs to have this base in Belarus and why this should be a priority”.

“ “I don’t know Russia has many priorities, perhaps, too many. Belarus is Russia’s military ally anyway,”  - Bruce Bucknell said.

Mr. Bucknell pointed out that Russian military bases had played an active role in the annexation of Crimea and military action in the Donetsk and Lugansk provinces. “Russian President Vladimir Putin himself admitted this,” he said. “To be honest, it’s not very pleasant to be an ally of a country that treats others like Russia.”

The British government has already appointed career diplomat Fiona Gibb to succeed Mr. Bucknell. She is scheduled to arrive in Minsk at the end of January.