National Platform is discussing its future

photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

What problems the Belarusan National Platform is facing, why do we need it, and what should its participants concentrate their efforts on in the near perspective.

These were the topics at the conference of the Belarusan National Platform “Inventory and revaluation of the potential of the Eastern Partnership program for development of the Belarusan civil society” that took place in Minsk on December 22.

As Andrei Yahorau, the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (BNP EaP CSF), noted at the opening address, today “Eastern Partnership” program is facing very serious challenges related to the changes in the geopolitical context and Russia’s policy in our countries’ region. Although this program affected the EaP countries so that the pro-European moods of countries-members of the EaP increased, the countries are now divided on those aiming at the EU Association an those who are lacking behind this process. That is where relations between the EU and the problem countries become pragmatic, while there is a threat that the issues of democratization and human rights that are important for the civil society are put aside, Andrei Yahorau believes.

The Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the BNP EaP CSF noted that such thaw is now taking place in Belarus-EU relations. However, there is danger that without any “added value” these relations might return Belarus to the situation of 2008-2010. That is why, Andrei Yahorau says, the members of the National Platform should activate their work in order to participate in the dialog between the EU and the Belarusan authorities.

In his turn Ulad Vialichka, the head of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus” told about the results of the IV Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum that took place on November 20-21, 2014 in Batumi. According to him, this meeting revealed the more sharp division of the Eastern Partnership countries on leaders, such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, and outsiders – Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Also, according to Ulad Vialichka, the meeting demonstrated the decrease in the level of Eastern Partnership presence at the EU’s agenda. Thus, it is not the first time that the European Commissioner didn’t take part in it. “This is a certain message that the Eastern partnership isn’t the focus of influence as it used to be”, - Ulad Vialichka commented upon the situation.

Speaking about intersystem trends, Ulad Vialichka paid attention to the change   in the structure of the Forum’s Steering Committee, consolidation of National Platforms, and aggravation of further marginalization in EaP CSF thematic groups.

As to the efficiency of the meeting in Batumi for the Belarusan National Platform, their participants managed to restore the reputation of the BNP, as well as establish cooperation with the representatives of other countries, for example, the Armenian National Platform.

 Nikolai Kvantaliani, the leader of the “New group” shared his impressions about his work as a coordinator of the Forum’s working groups. He paid attention to the problems with the prompt personnel rotation, as well as told about the work of the working groups, noting that basically no one monitors the realization of the resolutions adopted by the EaP CSF.

Answering the question about the possibility to stop the work of the Belarusan National Platform, the speakers didn’t exclude such possibility for the future; however, they all agreed that at the moment nothing will happen if the BNP is closed, whereas if we keep it we might count on it becoming a third party to the dialog between the Belarusan authorities and the EU.