Yuri Tsarik: The Development of the Relations of Belarus with West is of Strategic Importance (EXCLUSIVE)

• 10.13.2015, 14:23
•  EEU,  Interview

"Armedia" IAA presents an exclusive interview with an expert of the Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies (Belarus), Yuri Tsarik.

- Recently, the media has started to discuss the placement of Russian airbase in Belarus, which was denied by President Lukashenko. What do you think, is this issue being negotiated and if not, why it appeared on the agenda of media?

- The issue of the Russian military base in Belarus was raised several times in 2014 and 2015. In June 2015 the Minister of Defense of Belarus made it clear that the question of placing the base is on the political level. To translate it into a normal language, this means that a positive decision, and even the discussion around it are politically inappropriate in the existing "Minsk process."

Nevertheless, our Russian counterparts have put the issue on the agenda on the eve of presidential elections in Belarus. It was the decision of the government and the president of the Russian Federation. This was a unilateral step aimed at putting pressure on the Belarusian leadership. In parallel to the campaign of pressure, supporters of Russia in the government and state-run media and other organizations were involved. All this has already acquired some rude appearance and because of the willingness of the opposition to use the issue for political means, created a real threat for the stability of the country.

That is why Alexander Lukashenko made a public statement.

It should be understood: the content of this announcement corresponds to the strategic line of the Belarusian leadership. Minsk maintains its alliance with Russia, but it also normalizes relations with the West and furthermore, contributes to the peace in Ukraine and in the region as a whole, and does not play games on the escalation of the situation.

The President of Belarus, of course, did not want to make such a statement openly saying "no" to the Russian side. But the Russian side with its pressure made turn to this step.

- Recently we are witnessing warming of relations between Belarus and the EU. What is it conditioned by and do you consider lifting sanctions against Belarus possible in the near future? Will this process continue after the elections? How does Russia respond to this?

- The "warming" has a more accurate name that uses the Belarusian Foreign Ministry - "normalization." We are talking about it - lifting sanctions, restoration of the proper level of relations, creation of preconditions for a peaceful, stable and constructive development of relations between Belarus and its western neighbors. Obviously, this direction of politics is of strategic importance for the Belarusian authorities and the Belarusian state.

And this process will certainly continue after the elections. Even if something goes wrong and there will be attempts to destabilize the situation in Belarus, and even if there is some kind of new "rollback" in the relationship, obviously, the government will still seek to normalize relations with the EU.

Russia may respond to it in different ways and on different levels. We still see a fairly calm reaction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the story of the base makes us think more deeply about the real attitude of Russia towards the successes of the foreign policy of Belarus. In any case, Belarus is ready for the worst scenario, but still hopes for the best.