BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/02/2007

EU Ready to Engage in Conditional Dialog with Belarus

Belarus is considered Europe's last dictatorship, but amid a crisis between former allies Minsk and Moscow, the EU said a door to new negotiations could be opening.

While it is prudent to maintain the political pressure on largely isolated Belarus, officials in Brussels also said they want to make concrete offers for cooperation with the regime in Minsk.

"If there is even the slightest chance that the Belarusian regime is ready to conduct an honest dialog with Europe, then the EU should, in the exclusive interest of democratizing the country and liberating its oppressed populace, seize the opportunity, but set strict conditions from the beginning," said Hans-Gerd Pottering, the newly chosen president of the European Parliament.

Should such a signal came from Minsk, the country, and its people in particular, would stand to profit from offers made in the context of European foreign policy. A list of possible offers is said to already be contained in shadow action plan with the long-term goal of bringing Belarus closer to the EU using a package of political and socio-economic aid.

Easier travel, stipends and more

Such a package could include easing of travel restrictions, providing assistance for small and medium-sized businesses, cooperating on education and health projects, supporting justice system reforms and giving stipends to Belarusian exchange students in EU-states.

But the EU also sees itself as a community of shared values, and the offers to Minsk do not come free of charge.

Pottering said the EU's conditions included a commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, freedom of expression and human rights; and clear steps towards democratization, which include the unhindered activities of political opposition, non-governmental organizations and the media.

He also stressed that the Belarusian government would be required to clarify the disappearance of opposition leaders -- cases that have been pending for years, -- release its political prisoners and put an end to arbitrary arrests.

Media leverage

The EU also wants to provide the Belarusian people with access to uncensored information. European parliamentarian Michael Gahler said it's important the EU to give a voice inside Belarus to those who speak out about the country.

"That helps the people to realize that they are not alone, and it also helps them to get organized," he said.

A new flexibility on the part of Belarus is another precondition for any EU offer.

Some experts say the current political climate could well incline the Belarusian government to change its approach.

"We have to acknowledge that we are obviously dealing with a new situation in Belarus, given that the love between the Russian and the Belarusian president is not what it previously seemed to be," said Elmar Brok, a European delegate and member of the EU parliament's foreign policy committee. "The constellation of interests in Belarus may also have changed."

Brok referred to a row in January over gas supplies from Russia. After Moscow hiked its gas prices and imposed an oil export duty on its former Soviet neighbor, Minsk imposed a transit fee on Russian crude oil and Moscow subsequently cut off oil supplies via a major pipeline to western Europe for three days.

This could increase the readiness for compromise in Minsk. If, on the other hand, the Belarusian leadership does not send any signals, then all of the EU's offers for cooperation will be null and void.

"If there is no change in Minsk, then we cannot conduct a dialog, either," Brok said.

Cornelia Rabitz (ab)

Source:

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2351109,00.html