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Vital Rymasheuski: Talks between EU and dictator to lead to catastrophe

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Vital Rymasheuski: Talks between EU and dictator to lead to catastrophe

The realpolitik strategy doesn't work with Lukashenka.

It became known yesterday about a secret visit of Gunnar Wiegand, director of the European External Action Service, to Belarus. Why does the European Union continue the dialogue with the dictator if political prisoners are still behind bars, repressions gain momentum ahead of the “elections” and Lukashenka publicly supports Putin on Ukrainian issues? Charter97.org discusses it with Vital Rymasheuski, co-head of the organising committee to create the Belarusian Christian Democracy party (BCD).

– The slogan “Better Lukashenka than war” became popular not only in the Belarusian political swamp, among narrow-minded Belarusians and many politicians. Many began to use it in the international policy on Belarus. The thesis is as follows: we will update political contacts with the Belarusian regime for Belarus not to lose its independence and enter war; for this purpose, we close our eyes to political prisoners and the increased crackdown on civil society. The thesis is very popular in the European policy and among many opposition politicians. It is absolutely, undoubtedly wrong.

– Lukashenka clearly expressed his support to Putin on November 18, when a representative of the European Union was in Belarus for talks. How is it possible?

– Lukashenka's latest statement contrasts with the general tendency of condemning Putin. He chose this moment to express his full support to the Putin regime on the Ukrainian issue despite the EU's efforts, despite the fact the the EU lifts of sanctions without any grounds, closes eyes to political prisoners and maintains contacts with the Belarusian authorities. This line of the EU is rather obvious. Wiegand didn't meet with families of the political prisoners. As I remember, it is the first visit of such a level without meeting with the regime's opponents since 2009. And Lukashenka makes his statement to support Putin just after the visit. These are facts, not just words. The realpolitik strategy doesn't work. It means in fact ignoring values and human lives for the sake of higher purposes and establishing contacts between the states, perhaps, for the sake of the country's safety. But neither authorities nor their victims will feel better and safer.

Such visits in the absence of democratic changes in Belarus and the ongoing harassment of politicians, activists and journalists will only boost the feeling of permissiveness and impunity and won't influence the international policy and strategic behavior of the Belarusian regime. Lukashenka's latest statement demonstrates it.

– What will the talks between the EU and the dictator lead to?

– Belarus begins to prepare for the 2015 presidential campaign. It repeats the previous campaign of 2010 – attacks on human rights defenders and Belarusian journalists. Such Europe's policy towards the Belarusian regime can provoke the repetition of the catastrophe of 19 December 2010. It became possible due to the feeling of impunity, due to the regime's confidence that the EU will anyway maintain contacts and cooperate with the authorities. We saw the ungrounded crackdown on both presidential candidates and Belarusian democratic community. The tragedy may repeat.

– EU officials talk to Lukashenka, but the situation in Belarus is far worse than in 2010. Can it lead to worse consequences, to a more brutal crackdown?

– Consequences of the tragedy may, of course, be more serious and terrible than in 2010. A greater part of independent opposition was eliminated due to the repressions. It will be a catastrophe if it is repeated now. The authorities' opponents may disappear after the second blow. It's possible that the only thing that we will have is the model of the systemic opposition, like in Russia or Azerbaijan, the so called “opposition” that has parliamentary seats but has no influence. However strongly (and maybe fairly) we may criticise today's opponents of the Lukashenka regime, it still remains independent from the Belarusian regime. I hope this grain will grow in good time and masses will join it. In this case, changes are possible in the country. If the opposition is fully controlled by the authorities, ordinary Belarusians won't have any chances for changes and a better life. The only way that will remain in this case is a revolution, which always brings casualties and, I am confident, is not the best variant for anybody in Belarus.

– Why do EU politicians behave like that? Don't they see what is going on in the country?

– The reason is personal views and the practice of political relations. New young people come to power in the EU. They don't know the horror that fascism and later communism brought to Europe. They grew up in free democratic countries. They just don't understand the events in the east. They don't have similar experience, so they cannot have sympathy and understand people under pressure of despotic regimes. This is a system mistake. The mistake on the level of values. This course can be seen not only in relation to Belarus: Gaddafi used to pitch his tent on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris, though there was no democracy in his country. The realpolitik course becomes stronger in Europe's policy, but it leads to catastrophes rather than positive results. This course is financed by dictatorial regimes, like the regime of Gaddafi or Putin. It is common knowledge. It is a serious threat and strategic challenge for the EU politicians and the entire political system.

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