Raman Jakauleuski: EU has turned the other cheek on Minsk

Having invited the head of Belarus’ MFA to Krakow, the European Union has once again confused the notions of “hopes” and “illusions”.

A political observer Raman Jakauleuski has expressed such an opinion to the charter97.org web-site when commenting on the invitation of Uladzimir Makej to the meeting of the head of MFAs of the Eastern Neighborhood countries in Krakow.

“The invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus to Krakow tells that the initiators of the invitation not attentively enough read Makej’s interview to RIA Novosti at the beginning of April. In the interview Makej quite clearly and openly outlined that firm and unchanged position of the official Minsk as to the plans for the modernization of Belarus and normalization of the relations with theWest. The essence of the interview may be summarized as follows: the European Union should deal with the Belarusian authorities, not the opposition. As to the political prisoners, then they were not even recognized as a topic. And this April interview may be treated as a slap in the face to the EU, and by the invitation to Krakow Europe voluntarily turned the other check in a Christian manner”, - the political observer claimed.

He emphasized that in the end of last year, when Ukraine presented its presidency in the OSCE in Dublin, Makej, who had an official invitation, did not go there.

“Instead of him there was the first deputy Aliaksandr Mikhnievich. And now Alena Kupchyna is his deputy, who, I must admit, is received well in Europe. She was an ambassador in Budapest. I think that at the current stage of the relations of official Minsk and the United Europe contacts at the level of Kupchyna are enough. Makej cannot say anything new, since in our country, as it is well known, everything is decided by one person”, - Raman Jakauleuski added.

He believes that the rumors that the head of Belarusian MFA has allegedly fallen into disgrace and disfavor and for that reason could not go to New York or Krakow, have no grounds beneath them.

“Moreover, we already saw such a tactic in 2010, when there were rumors of certain pro-westerness of Makej etc. We already saw it all, there is nothing new there. And those, who throw in such information, no matter whether those are independent political scientists or opposition politicians, in this way pour water in the water mill of the ruling regime and powder Europe’s brain. That is why Europeans have once again confused the notions of “hopes” and “illusions”, having invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus to Krakow”, - the political observer is sure.

At the same time he highlighted that this initiative of Polish MFA originated under the apparent influence of such kind of advisors.

“Here I mean those, who convinced that Makej is almost a hope for the normalization of the relations. That is what they got. From me personally, I would say that some Polish politicians and officials may suffer from this failure and obvious mistaken actions, based on illusions instead of reality. Polish opposition may use the mistakes of their opponents who fall victims to such catches”, - Raman Jakauleuski concluded.