Stanislav Shushkevich: If Russia Strips Belarus of Sovereignty, It Won’t Be for Long :: Charter'97 :: News

On Sunday Minsk will be visited by the Russian president Vladimir Putin, who intends to engage in the session of the Supreme State Council of the Russian-Belarusian union. Putin and his colleague Alexander Lukashenko will discuss the future of integration. “Vremya Novostei” special correspondent in Minsk Natalya Viktorova posed her questions in this regard to the former Speaker of the Belarusian parliament Stanislav Shushkevich, one of the co-authors of the 1991 agreements, which brought about the dissolution of the USSR.

- What’s your opinion about Vladimir Putin’s statement on the desirability of Belarus’ accession to Russia, voiced last summer? Do you think that the new policy of the Russian leadership can lead to such a result?

- I see nothing new in Russia’s position. There’s but an old imperial policy, which used to be pursued back in the past in the USSR. I’m not saying that Putin himself is an adherent of this policy, but nonetheless he has to follow it.

Lukashenko is obeying the will of the Russian leadership. Firstly, because no other country supports him. Secondly, because he’s constantly faced with a danger of Russian energy cut-off. By the way, in my mind Russia’s economic aid is by no means so significant as many consider it to be. The Russian nomenclature is professional enough to make proper calculations and not subsidize Belarus at their own cost.

- Many experts believe that Putin’s statements about Belarus’ accession to Russia are mere political trick, whereas in reality the Russian president doesn’t care…

- I categorically object to that. The signing of the Viskuli agreements and recognition of the Belarusian independence were temporary deviations from the policy, long pursued by Russia. Two years later Eltsin resumed his attempts to rebuilt lost positions. And Vladimir Putin continues this policy of his. Not even once did he make any remarks about human rights abuses in Belarus. I guess, the current Belarusian leadership is just fine with him, for it is totally subdued to the Russian authorities.

- Even now they rebuke you for signing those agreements in Viskuli and, consequently, destroying the USSR. What’s your attitude to it now, almost a decade later?

- Super positive. For the first time in two hundred years we managed to make Russia recognize the independence of Belarus without blood-shedding, street clashes and rallies. Many had sought in the past to do it by force, but we succeeded to achieve it by political means on the spur of the moment.

I still assume that the withdrawal of nuclear weapons was a positive phenomenon. Fancy if Lukashenko could get a grip of it. Being a person, who learnt fundamentals of military tactics and strategy in the Soviet university, I pretty much realize that in case of an open conflict they first of all target communication centers and military bases, where foe’s most lethal weapons are concentrated. This could present a danger of a complete annihilation of our nation. Now we are no longer living in this fear, as before.

- What did Belarus manage to achieve over the years of independence?

- We achieved a lot, despite the administrative economy. Belarus is developing trade relations with the countries of free and market economies, with whom one cannot cooperate in Soviet style. Realities are slowly getting us closer to the market.

- Can Belarus and Russia ever merge into one state?

- Such a danger exists, of course, but I’m hoping for the better for both Russia and Belarus. If Russia strips Belarus of independence that won’t be for long. Kremlin doesn’t control all of the Russian territory today and so the danger of Russia’s further dissolution still exists. In case Belarus joins it, the centrifugal forces in Russia will speed up. The West will never recognize such an amalgamation anyway, for it considers Belarusian regime illegitimate. We shouldn’t turn into Russia’s colony simply because Russia wants to draw closer to center her Kaliningrad region. We need good neighboring relations as exist between Canada and USA, France and Switzerland.