Madeleine Albright: Democracies Should Help Each Other :: Charter'97 :: News

“We hope that Russia is to understand soon that to have dictatorship in the neighborhood is far from an ideal situation,” in this way former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright answered the question of a reporter of Russian newspaper Vedomosti about situation in Belarus. Besides, Madeleine Albright thinks that at present moment it is necessary that “the world knew about the Belarusian opposition, was interested its actions – in this way democracies support each other”. According to the former Secretary of State, in Belarus there are people who want free elections, but world community should pay more attention to them. The full text of the interview follows:

- What is your comment on Russia’s recent political steps in its neighboring countries?

- I think that the results of these actions were summed up in a recent statement of Putin. He said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a national tragedy. It seems to me that the attempt of considering countries of the former USSR as an integral part of some Russian state is taking place again. That is why I am concerned by the recent actions of Moscow towards these states.

- Does Western political elite share your anxiety?

- Many are concerned, but not everybody. Some are glad that Russia is on our side in the war against terrorism. It is important to have common goal, but many in the West are worried by Russian policy regarding Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, where Russia is trying to kindle separatism, instead of supporting the government.

- What do you think about the situation in Belarus?

- It’s a pity that it happened in this way. We hope that Russia would understand soon that its is far from an ideal situation to have a dictator in the neighborhood. Now it is hard to influence the situation, but I hope that opposition would come into view in Belarus.

- Do you think it is possible without external help?

- - External help is a very specific thing. I’d like to explain why. On the example of all dissident movements I had dealings with I could say that they do not need material assistance, they are courageous people and they know how to find resources. The only thing that dissidents need is attention from outside, from democratic community. It does not mean that external forces are supporting dissidents; they just attract attention to their existence. That is why the statement of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grischenko that opposition must not receive help from outside is ridiculous. It is necessary that everybody should know about the opposition, was interested in its actions – in this way democracies help each other, and not by some subversive activities. There are people in Belarus who want free elections, but world community should pay more attention to them.

- Do you think that now it is disregarded?

- I think that not enough attention is given to it. Lately Iraq has absorbed attention of majority.