Andrei Sannikov: We can really turn history

The leader of the civil campaign European Belarus attended Brussels Forum.

The discussion on Belarus and Eastern Europe was held yesterday after screening the film Dangerous Acts Starring The Unstable Elements Of Belarus. Pavol Demes, member of the Council of the European Endowment for Democracy, expert of the German Marshal Fund and former Slovak foreign minister, was a moderator of the discussion, involving Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus and a candidate in the 2010 presidential election, Madeleine Sackler, the director of Dangerous Acts Starring The Unstable Elements Of Belarus, Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius, chairman of the Georgian parliament Davis Usupashvili, UDAR party leader Vitali Klitschko and other politicians and public figures.

“There is a very powerful school of thought and strategists very knowledgeable, very well aware of the situation in the region of the former Soviet Union,” Andrei Sannikov said. “They do produce a lot of impact on decision makers, on policy makers. But somehow the obvious result of these strategies is that we are always surprised. It started with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. And the tendency continues today. We were surprised and the West was surprised when the Soviet Union collapsed. We had this feeling that it would happen, but, apparently, not everybody. That's why it was the Chicken Kiev speech of George Bush the senior. And it continues today. Everybody was surprised when Yanukovych made a U-turn. Then everybody was surprised when Maidan started. Then everybody was surprised that Maidan prevailed. Then everybody was surprised that Russian invaded Crime and Ukraine. We have to stop it because it is a moment of truth today.

If you want to know some answers, study the recent history of Belarus. Ask us what will happen, and don't comfort yourself that it will dissolve by itself. The situation is quite dangerous. But at the same time, it's quite promising. We can really turn the history and make it normal history for my country, for Ukraine."

Brussels Forum is held this year on March 21 – March 23 with participation of well-known and influential politicians of Europe and the US. Belarus is represented by Andrei Sannikov, the leader of European Belarus civil campaign and candidate in the 2010 presidential election.