Raman Yakauleuski: EU hits wall of Minsk's “unbowed” position

Attempts of the West to engage the Lukashenka regime in the European integration process have no effect.

Political observer Raman Yakauleuski spoke to charter97.org about the visit of the EU representatives to Minsk.

“We know that heads of the Swedish and Polish foreign ministries are going to visit the EaP countries in the run up to the Vilnius Summit. As for Minsk, its relations with the European Union haven't reached the level when ministerial visits are possible. The visit by high-ranking officials indicates the level of working relations – the level of deputy ministers and department heads. Minsk, unlike other EaP countries, is not ready yet for something bigger. So, we cannot speak about normalisation of relations,” the observer thinks.

Raman Yakauleuski is sure that Minsk reaps the fruits of the events on December 19, 2010, that led to a sharp deterioration in the relations with the EU.

“The aftermath hasn't been overcome yet. I mean political prisoners first of all. But working contacts are necessary. So, we have working contacts on this level. I wouldn't regard this event as something extraordinary. It is just necessary working contacts between Poland and Sweden on behalf of the EU and official Minsk. I'd like to add one more thing. Both the Vilnius Summit and all events to engage the Belarusian regime in the European integration process look like that: the EU is hitting a wall of the unchanged 'unbowed' position of official Minsk,” the political observer says.

We remind that representatives of the foreign ministries of Poland and Sweden arrive in Minsk on October 24 with a two-day visit.