Stanislau Shushkevich: Cooperation with the authorities of Belarus is a mistake of the "Eastern Partnership" program

• 24.08.2012, 15:39

The politician believes that in the very rules of "Eastern Partnership" lies a “perversity”.

First leader of Independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich commented to website charter97.org, on the statement of the Minister of Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis that Belarus cannot be excluded from the EU program "Eastern Partnership".

"Eastern Partnership" is designed to work with governments, not with other actors. And since our government is anti-democratic, does not comply with international standards in the field of human rights, and there are no free elections in Belarus, the game by these rules is a big mistake of "Eastern Partnership", - said Stanislau Shushkevich.

"From six countries of the former Soviet republics, which are now a part of the "Eastern Partnership", program, only with Belarus will not be any good. In the very rules of the Eastern Partnership lays viciousness", - said the politician.

"There is not even a word in this program about "cultural interaction". Once in Prague, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, was convincing us that such a position will be found, but so far nothing has changed", - noted the first leader of Independent Belarus.

"I do not see that Belarus would gain anything significant from "Eastern Partnership"”, - said Stanislau Shushkevich.

Recall, on August 24, Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis met with Foreign Ministers of Baltic States and Germany in Riga. At the meeting Ažubalis stressed that, despite the fact that Belarus has chosen the path of self-isolation, it cannot be excluded from the program.

"Suspension of Belarus' participation in "Eastern Partnership" will leave Belarusian people without European perspective", - stressed out the head of Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.