Europe needs strategy on Belarus

The situation of Belarus was discussed in Tallinn at a high level.

The Lennart Meri Conference was held in Tallinn on May 24—26. The annual conference under the aegis of President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who takes active part in all sessions, focuses on international politics laying special emphasis on the Baltic States.

In 2011, the Estonian president spoke about events in Belarus: dispersal of a rally against the rigged results of the presidential elections on 19 December 2010 and jailed activists.

The conference traditionally invites world leaders. This year's conference was attended by Prime Minister of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of Estonia Andrus Ansip, Acting Undersecretary at the US Department of State Rose Gottemoeller, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Paet, former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, former President of Serbia Boris Tadič, Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania, Freedom House President David Kramer, one of the leaders of the Russian opposition Boris Nemtsov, Chairman of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Committee on European Integration Hryhoryi Nemyria, representatives of European and American leading analytical centres, journalists and activists.

Belarus was represented by Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, and Iryna Krasouskaya, the head of We Remember Foundation and the widow of abducted businessman and activist.

The situation in Belarus was discussed at a special session with participation of Andrei Sannikov, Boris Nemtsov, Arkady Moshes from the Institute of International Affairs and Jana Kobzova, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. The discussion was moderated by Pavol Demeš from the German Marshall Fund.

“The discussion on Belarus was hot. Journalists and members of governments and NGOs joined the debate. The situation in Belarus causes great concerns. The ongoing repression against opposition, civil society raises more and more concerns of the international community. Attempts to resume contacts with the Lukashenka regime turned to be unsuccessful. Meantime, the situation of political prisoners continues to worsen.

I am concerned about the demonstration of Realpolitik approaches by certain European politicians ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit. Lithuania is especially active in this direction. I mean Paleckis's report and holding high-level economic forums. It is clear on the one hand: Lithuania takes over the EU presidency in July and prepares to host the Eastern Partnership Forum. On the other hand, attempts by all means to invite representatives of the dictatorship in Vilnius without changes in the human rights situation will mean a failure of the summit,” Andrei Sannikov said in an interview with charter97.org.

The politician discussed the Belarusian issue with Estonian President Toomas Ilves, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, former PM of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania, Freedom House President David Kramer, representatives of other states and analysts.

“The meetings confirmed a good understanding of the events in Belarus: the regime of Lukashenka does not make steps to improve the human rights situation; the state of political prisoners remains difficult; attempts of certain politicians to establish a dialogue with the dictatorship perplex the international community,” the politician said.

Participants of the conference said the Belarusian model of repression was actively used in Russia. In particular, Boris Nemtsov said that democratic changes in Belarus would have a positive impact on the situation in Russia.

“I think it's high time for the international community, in particular Europe to have a strategic look at the existence of a dictatorship in Europe and take particular measures to change the situation,” the European Belarus leader said.