BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Wednesday, 27 July 2005

EU on Polish-Belarus spat

Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson

The diplomatic war between Poland and Belarus, with expulsions of diplomats now raising the question of whether embassies in both Minsk and Warsaw will be closed, has not yet ruffled feathers in Brussels. "The Commission considers that this is a bilateral matter between Belarus and Poland," said Amadeu Altafaj Tardio, External Relations spokesperson for the European Commission, commenting today on the diplomatic row for the first time.

Polish media and foreign ministry officials have portrayed the diplomatic spat as having its origins in pressure on the 400,000 strong Polish minority in the country. "The artificially worsened situation around 'The Union of Poles in Belarus' is only a part of the successive negative efforts made by the Polish side," countered Belarus' Foreign Ministry on Monday.

"Despite the continuing hysteria in Poland, the situation as to this Belarus public association [Union of Poles] will be settled in line with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus. Attempts to exert outside influence will be considered as interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state," added Belarus foreign ministry officials.

For the moment, the European Commission has not yet sided with Poland's version of events. Belarus' Polish-speaking minority appears not to be singled out as such, according to the Commission, but is suffering as do other Belarus citizens under Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's rule. The Union of Poles is then being brought under control like other non-governmental Belarus associations and political parties. "We are concerned by the situation of all minorities and of civil society in Belarus. We will continue to monitor the situation closely," explained European Commission spokesperson Tardio.

For his part, Belarus President Lukashenko now talks of a Western plot to take over the country he has ruled since 1993. "We are heading into a very serious confrontation and we must not oversimplify the problem. Of course, the Americans, the West will aim to destabilize the situation here in any possible way," Lukashenko said on Tuesday following a meeting with interior and foreign policy officials. "They have worked out certain tactics that may include even intervention in our country."

Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Adam Rotfeld told Polish radio, following the diplomatic expulsions, that Lukashenko is in a corner and needs scapegoats: "The internal situation in Belarus is worrying for President Lukashenko and he's looking for enemies," said Rotfeld. In recent months, Lukashenko, whom U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice called 'Europe's last dictator', has faced increasing pressure from EU member Poland.

Source:

http://euro-reporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=1

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