Lubomir Rehak: “It’s difficult to imagine full cooperation between Belarus and EU”
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11:33, — Politics
It’s difficult to imagine a full cooperation between the Belarusian authorities and the EU in today’s conditions. Lubomir Rehak, Slovak temporary charge d'affaires to Belarus, told in an interview to BelaPAN in view of the expiration of the term of his office. Since November 2007 till May 2008 Slovakia held chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
L. Rehak reminded that yet in 2006 the European Commission published a document “What the EU could bring to Belarus.” “It contains not only 12 conditions necessary for a full dialog, but lists the advantages, the Belarusian people could have from cooperation with the European Union,” the diplomat noted.
According to him, “a hope Belarus will begin to change” appears in late 2007-early 2008. As an example L. Rehak mentioned peaceful holding of the opposition actions – the European and Social Marches, as well as release of “most of political prisoners.”
“These were positive changes that infused hope,” the Slovak diplomat noted. “But a new wave of repressions, which began, as I noticed, after Iryna Kazulina’s death, is incomprehensive. In my view, after her death it was possible to settle the matter of political prisoners. However, this opportunity wasn’t used. I can’t fully understand, what has influenced the changing of tactics of the Belarusian leadership, why such an abrupt turn happened.”
In L. Rehak’s view, until Belarus makes “concrete steps to meet the EU, only theoretical talks on development of the relations are possible.” “We have no objections to concrete politicians, but it is important all political processes on the country meet democratic norms,” Slovak diplomat emphasised.
He noted that the coming autumn parliamentary “elections” “would in a great measure determine the chances of Belarus to live according to European standards.” “All candidates for deputies should have equal access to electorate, media, and political parties and movements should have equal access to electoral commissions. The whole procedure should be transparent,” Lubomir Rehak stressed.
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