Hans-Georg Wieck: “Today’s Regime In Belarus Is Authoritarian” :: Charter'97 :: News

In the end of December, after a four-year work in Minsk, head of the OSCE mission in Belarus Hans-Georg Wieck leaves Belarus. The day before his departure the diplomat whom A.Lukashenka repeatedly accused of backing opposition and interference with internal country’s affairs, gave an interview to influential Russian newspaper IZVESTIYA.

- What has changed in Belarus in the four years of your work there?

- I must say that at first authorities worked in partnership with OSCE, and with our cooperation measures were worked out to democratize the society. But when the time has come for concrete decisions before the local, parliamentary and presidential elections, the government did not pass to the real actions. Civil society developed rather despite, than owing to authorities’ efforts. The democratic forces that exist in Belarus now, have achieved considerable success, however to win elections they can only under condition that there would be no falsification.

- Will the relations between European institutions and official Minsk return to normal in the short run?

- These relations will change if Belarusian authorities would make corresponding steps. I hope that they understand it. Recently my viewpoint on this matter was not asked. There are little grounds for optimism yet.

- What events will follow in the country in your opinion?

- On the grounds of the West European democratic experience, opposition should be ready to become the ruling power in any moment and to take the responsibility for governing the country. What concerns the authoritarian regimes, it is much harder to predict anything. I cannot exclude that Belarusian leadership would express desire to cooperate with Western countries closely, as it was in 1999.

- Does it mean that you identify A.Lukashenka’s regime as authoritarian?

- I consider that the present system of power in Belarus is an authoritarian regime. Not a dictatorship.

- What comparison could you draw with the current political situation in Belarus?

- Today the country reminds of the former USSR to some extend. A concentration of legislative, judicial and executive powers in the framework of the presidency occurred. In the USSR it was combined in the framework of the Communist party.

Izvestiya’s Note

Hans-Georg Wieck has been working as a diplomat since 1954. He worked as FRG ambassador in Iran, and from 1977 till 1980 – in the USSR. Then for five years he was a permanent representative of Germany in NATO. From 1990 till 1993 he headed the Embassy of his country in India. From 1998 he was appointed head of the Advisory and Monitoring group in Minsk.