Milinkevich’s advisor: “Regime of Lukashenka takes course on improving relations with West”

• 2.10.2009, 16:07

The expert of the “For Freedom” movement made another statement on a “dialogue” between West and the Belarusian dictator.

Radio Svaboda asked Andrei Lyakhovich: PACE made a decision on not depriving Russia of its vote at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Can parallels be drawn and this decision be compared with attitude of the Parliamentary Assembly to official Minsk? The European institutions have stopped isolation and begun a policy of involving Belarus into European affairs, even if they have to meet halfway.

The advisor to Alyaksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the “For Freedom” movement, said:

“There is a big difference between the result of this policy for Belarus and Russia. What concerns Russia, I don’t think this policy will lead to positive climate in relations between West and Russia. This also won’t lead to any democratic changes in Russia.

What to Belarus, the policy of involving has more prospects. Extending economic ties with West contributes to transformation of Belarusian society, including the authorities. This transformation is slow, but it exists – in spite of pressure from Russia, the regime of Lukashenka ha s taken a course on improving relations with West.

In actual fact, West could raise a question of political liberalization to Minsk. But we need to understand that the Belarusian opposition must undergo evolution to be able to use these opportunities. Unfortunately, the opposition is in crises and can’t be the third party at negotiations. So, the dialogue is possible only between West and the regime of Lukashenka so far.”