What Eastern Partnership summit in Riga holds for Belarus

Five key things to know about the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga this week. Who will eventually represent Belarus?

19.05.2015 - 01:01 Ales Piletski

What is the Eastern Partnership Summit
It is a big meeting of the leaders of the Eastern Partnership member countries with high-rank European officials. The first such summit was held on 7 May 2009 in Prague - it adopted a joint declaration on the EaP program and formally approved it. It actually means that the Eastern Partnership was launched in Prague. Then there were the summits in Warsaw, Brussels and Vilnius. At the same time Belarus, unlike other participants, has never been represented by the head of the country - instead of Lukashenka the country was represented by the MFA head.
What's going on there
All kinds of things do. For example, at the Brussels summit in 2012, participants discussed Belarus. More precisely, they discussed the human rights situation in our country. It was acknowledged that there is room for improvement. At the last summit in Vilnius they were supposed to sign the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. It did not really work well with Ukraine, as everyone knows, that's why Maidan, Crimea, and the war in Donbass followed.
What can happen at the summit in Riga
Basically, nothing serious can happen at the Summit. "There is not much to be expected. Apart from, maybe, the signing of certain documents on the visa regime facilitation. And it could happen some time after the summit," warns political analyst Andrei Yahorau. Moreover, it is not even about visa price reduction for Belarusians, but rather about the streamliningn of procedures for diplomats and other VIPs. Thus, ordinary citizens wll not notice anything except the catchy media headlines.
Who will represent Belarus
Here is still a little mystery. The EaP Summit is the place for geopolitical PR. Since the beginning of the spring, there have circulated rumors on the sidelines of the Western Ministries about Lukashenka getting an invitation. The rumor had it that the West could even turn a blind eye to the fact that Lukashenka is stil on the EU black list. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has not disclosed the name of its representative saying it is too early for that: "Currently, this information cannot be disclosed. The name of the Belarus representative at the Riga summit will be made public as soon as there is a need for it."
The expert Yury Shautsou believes that the invitation and the visit of Lukashenka to Riga could be another signal to the West - look, we are in fact neutral and independent. However, Shautsou said that the Eastern Partnership summit has not really taken serious decisions before, so "there is little practical significance in the presidential visit to Riga." Andrei Yahorau believes that the likelihood of this visit equals zero: "Lukashenka is on the black list. To get him off it, you need a solution of all the EU countries. This has not been the case."
Why the Eastern Partnership summits make Russia so angry?
the reason could be that Russia was not invited there, and the participating countries like Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus has long been perceived by the Kremlin as its sphere of influence. In addition, one of the ideologists of the EaP was Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and he is the sworn enemy of Kremlin in the geopolitical field of Europe. In reality we see that the Kremlin's fears are not entirely baseless - Moscow has lost Ukraine as an ally if not for ever, then for a very long time.

Kilde: http://euroradio.fm/en/what-eastern-partnership-summit-riga-will-holds-belarus

Viktor Shenderovich: Lukashenka is Putin without nuclear bomb

The Belarusian dictator uses the same gangster tactic as his Russian counterpart, but he applies it at home rather than using it abroad.

A meeting with prominent Russian journalist and writer Viktor Shenderovich was held in Warsaw on May 18 as part of the presentation of his book titled “Russia: How to Speak about It”. The event was organised by the Polish Stefan Batory Foundation.
Ironical as usual, Viktor Shenderovich noted that “the smaller the room is, the higher the chances that you have a capacity audience”. However, it is due to the talent of Viktor Shenderovich rather than the size of the room that the conference hall of the Foundation was full.
The writer answered many questions from the audience, consisting of representatives of Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian media and organisations as well as people who like his books.
Journalists of charter97.org prepared a transcript of Viktor Shenderovich's answers.
– Russia look one-dimensional in the eyes of Europe. It is seized with the “Crimea is ours” syndrome. This image is confirmed by opinion polls conducted by Levada Centre that show Putin enjoys high support among the Russians. Can this state be changed? Can the Russian opposition find an approach to Russian citizens?
– As Professor Preobrazhensky said: “Do not read Soviet newspapers.” The key word here is “support”. Descartes called on people to agree on the meaning of words. Europeans understand the word “support” as a percentage of population that a politician can rely on in the equal competitive struggle. This definition doesn't work in authoritarian states. What support does the North Korean leader have? If Levada Centre carried out an absolutely honest opinion poll in Pyongyang, you would see that 99-100% of people support him. But ask them if they want to wake up in South Korea, and you will get the same result of 99-100%. Support in authoritarian states is the effect of a pre-heated thermometer. It is the effect of fear and neurosis. If you are asked “Do you support Komorowski, or do you want your legs to be cut off?”, I assure you, you will say you support Komorowski. You will get the same percentage to the question “Do you support Putin's policy, or do you stand for the disintegration of Russia?” You cannot use the word “rating” for authoritarian regimes. People are supposed to receive information before the support is measured. People in democratic countries receive information on equal conditions. The first step made by authoritarian regimes is taking the media under control. Ceausescu had a 100% approval rating a week before he was shot. They all had 100% ratings, but then they were shot.
I prefer to use my own sociology. A year ago, when Putin had his famous 84%, I organised a one-man picket with the poster reading “War in Ukraine is disgrace and crime”. About 200 people passed by me. Six of them said they didn't agree, 12 said they support me. From the rest, one half passed by with no emotions, and the other half tried to hide their eyes or demonstrated a neurotic reaction in other ways. Putin's “sociology” define them as “supporters”. But the value of such support is not high: it is the “support” through indifference and neurosis. We need to distinguish the real support from the zone of fear, neurosis and miserable being.

Today's situation looks dramatic even for Putin's closest cronies. He cannot step down. He will go straight to The Hague once he quits. He has nothing to lose. He knows it, and this knowledge in combination with nuclear weapons is very dangerous. Many would like to jump off the train that is going to derail. Many officials would like the first decade of the “Putin epoch” to be returned. They would be able to rule Russia like Uzbekistan and live the European lifestyle on what they robbed. Unfortunately for them, the trap has shut,. They would like Putin to disappear but the money they robbed to remain. Please don't call it support. Otherwise we can speak about the “support” of Islam Karimov, Aliaksndr Lukashenka and Pol Pot. This is the support from hostages. For those who know history, these close to 100% ratings are a sign of the upcoming catastrophe.
How to take Russia today? How to speak about Russia? Try not to mix up the civilisation and the administration. The Russian civilisation is unthinkable without Europe. Russia became great when it became a part of Europe. In the 17th century, Russia was a territory outside the borders of the evolution. Russia's famous 19th century is the result of Russia's joining the European paradigm. It is important here not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let's distinguish Putin's terrible administration and the people of Russia, who are not the most educated, from the civilisation that gave the world Tolstoy, Mendeleev, Chekhov and Tchaikovsky…
– Your thesis about “Putin's sociology”, “support out of fear”, a desire of officials to jump off the train and crossing the point of no return by the dictator resembles the situation in another country governed by another man. I mean Belarus and Lukashenka.
– Technologies of the authoritarian power are quite simple and well known. Machiavelli gave an exhaustive description of them. I am not sure if Lukashenka read Machiavelli... I must admit that what Putin has done in the last year plays into the hand of Lukashenka, because before that he was considered to be the last dictator in Europe. It was his almost official title. He cheered up after the events in Donbas. He is said to ask recently, “Who is the last dictator? Am I the last?” If Lukashenka had nuclear weapons, his name would be Putin and the world would take him more seriously. Luckily, Lukashenka does not have nuclear weapons, so he flies on his “golden helicopter” from Shklou to Brest, not doing much harm to the planet. Belarus has the traditional dictatorship model. Lukashenka is just lucky that Europe and world have bigger problems than him.

 

– You mentioned the low quality of Putin's support and the concept of hostages. Nevertheless, he enjoys support. Is there a chance that civil society will appear in Russia and the facade won't just be replaced “after Putin”?
– If I knew the answer, I would gamble on stocks. Civil society cannot be exported from Mars. It is an evolutionary process. As historian Natan Eidelman said, a period of freedom in Russia lasts for 10-12 years, followed by decades of torn nostrils and severe beating. After a period of degradation, when the best was being destroyed, ahead of a new round of “freedoms”, we had decent people – economists, philosophers, historians... Elites always exist. The matter is whom people prefer to see in the elite – Professor Preobrazhensky or Sharikov [characters of Bulgakov's novel Heart of a Dog].

– Some EU politicians think there is a “thaw” now in Belarus. Minsk is a mediator at the talks over Ukraine. Belarus is invited to the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga…
– As for the so called “Belarusian thaw”, I'd like to remind you an old Jewish joke: don't confuse asthma and an orgasm. Aliaksandr Lukashenka continues to trade and does it perfectly: he takes hostages – Andrei Sannikov and others – and then releases them... This is the same gangster technology that Putin uses, but Lukashenka applies it inside Belarus. Putin crossed the border literally, while Lukashenka acts inside his country. This is an old technology: North Korean leaders have been using it for 70 years, Cuba, Venezuela and other countries use it... Do not call it a “thaw”. There were two thaws in Russian history: the first one when emperor Nicholas I died, and the second one when Joseph Stalin died. Make your conclusions when the “Belarusian thaw” will begin.

Kilde: http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/5/19/152092/

Östgruppen: EU:s chef i Belarus bör få sparken

Maira Mora

Chefen för EU:s representation i Belarus, Maira Mora, agerar i strid med EU:s grundläggande värderingar och officiella politik. Därför bör hon entledigas från sitt uppdrag. Det anser Östgruppen, som nu uppmanar Sveriges regering att lyfta frågan internt inom EU.
– Istället för att tydligt ge uttryck för EU:s officiella linje till stöd för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter i Belarus har Maira Mora vid upprepade tillfällen framträtt på ett sätt som snarare tjänar den illegitima Lukasjenkaregimens intresse. Hon har därmed förbrukat sitt förtroende som företrädare för EU, säger Östgruppens ordförande Martin Uggla.
Maira Mora har flera gånger gjort den belarusiska demokratirörelsen upprörd och besviken genom sina offentliga framträdanden. I höstas medverkade hon till exempel i en pratshow i en statlig tv-kanal, och uppmanade där alla belarusier att stötta president Lukasjenka. Den aktuella pratshowen leds av Vadzim Hihin, som själv är föremål för EU-sanktioner på grund av sin delaktighet i regimens propagandaverksamhet.
Häromdagen deltog Mora på nytt i samma pratshow, och berömde där Lukasjenka för dennes förmåga att ”umgås med folket”. Hon nämnde däremot inte EU:s officiella krav på den belarusiska regimen att släppa alla politiska fångar fria, trots att hon fick en uttrycklig fråga om vad som i dagsläget hindrade en närmare relation mellan EU och Belarus. Samma dag som pratshowen hölls stod landets mest kände politiske fånge – den förre presidentkandidaten Mikola Statkevitj som suttit fängslad sedan presidentvalet 2010 – inför rätta på nytt. I en domstolsförhandling som människorättsförsvarare och EU-representanter nekades tillträde till dömdes Statkevitj till en ytterligare skärpning av sitt fängelsestraff på grund av påstådda brott mot fängelsets regelverk.
EU-delegationen i Minsk har under Maira Moras ledning fått ett allt sämre rykte hos stora delar av den belarusiska demokratirörelsen. Många upplever en tydlig ovilja från delegationens sida att engagera sig i demokrati- och människorättsfrågor.
Östgruppen ser utvecklingen som bekymmersam och uppmanar Sveriges regering att lyfta problemet inom EU.
– Utrikesminister Margot Wallström har sagt att Sveriges och EU:s Belaruspolitik tydligt ska ta ställning för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter. Den ambitionen måste också gälla EU:s representation på plats i Belarus, och Sveriges regering bör göra vad den kan för att åstadkomma detta, säger Martin Uggla.
För mer information, kontakta:
Martin Uggla
ordförande, Östgruppen för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter
070-941 17 02

Kilde: http://www.ostgruppen.se/2015/05/06/ostgruppen-eus-chef-i-belarus-bor-fa-sparken/

How a Jew should register at Shapira's office

Yauhen Lipkovich
Photo: budzma.by

A blogger called to the Minsk regional executive committee to learn how he should register in accordance with Lukashenka's order.

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– Hello, this is the Minsk regional executive committee.
– Hello, my name is Yauhen Lipkovich. The president said in his address yesterday that all Jews must be registered at Shapira's office. I am calling you to learn how I can do it.
– Could you hold on, please?
The call was put through.
– Hello.
– Hello. I am Yauhen Lipkovich. The president said on television yesterday that all Jews must be registered. I call you to learn how I should do it.
– Many people call us every day.
– Do all of them want to be registered?
– Yes.
– Is the infrastructure ready?
– Do you want me to answer seriously or not?
– I want you to tell me the truth.
– Calm down, please.
– I am okay.
– Did you calm down?
– Yes.
– So, do you want me to answer seriously or not?
– Seriously, of course. The registration can be introduced retrospectively...
– Sorry?
– My wife is abroad. She says she won't return to the country. It's not funny.
– Eh... Hmm...
– What is your name? I didn't catch it.
– My name is Siarhei Paulavich.
– What is your job, Siarhei Paulavich?
– I work at the social and administrative department of the regional executive committee.
– What is your surname?
– I won't tell you my surname.
– Why?
– I don't want.
– But I'll ask in the office to whom they put me through.
He hang up.
Yauhen Lipkovich

Activists ask Prosecutor General's Office to give legal assessment of Lukashenka's remarks

The dictator's remarks about Jews can violate criminal law.

Human rights defender Tatsiana Raviaka sent an electronic appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office of Belarus, asking to assess Lukashenka's order to “take all Jews under control”.
“During his annual address to the nation and the parliament on April 29, Aliaksandr Lukashenka said to chairman of the Minsk city executive committee Siamion Shapira: 'I asked you a year ago to take all Jews in Belarus under control.'
I ask the Prosecutor General's Office to carry out a check and figure out what control over this national group the head of state meant, in connection with what circumstances and with what purpose,” the human rights defender quotes her appeal on Facebook.
Raviaka also asked to assess Lukashenka's remark to find out if it violates article 130 of the Criminal Code of Belarus “stirring up racial, national or religious hatred”.
The human rights defender attached a video of Lukashenka's speech

Kilde : .http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/4/30/149638/

лукашенко

Priests answered to Lukashenka’s accusations about “mistakes on the side”

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ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST YURY SANKO
PHOTO: CATHOLIC.BY

Representatives of the Orthodox and Catholic churches have commented on the statements of Lukashenka about priests.

On the request of BelaPAN, representatives of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in Belarus comment on the statements about clerics, made by Alyaksandr Lukashenka on April 29 during the annual address to the Belarusian people and the parliament.
Touching upon the issue of demography, Lukashenka in particular said: in order to agitate for family, one should have own children. “I often criticize our clergy, not in a public way, especially the ones of the highest level. They are so ardent in advocating for and agitating for family values! When I ask: how many children does Your Holiness have? "None", is the answer. How can you agitate for a family if you have no children? One should have children to advocate for that. What an absurdity! Why a high priest should not have children? How could it be? I feel like someone is cheating me. I know it for sure. It is normal. One needs children to be a real human. One is not a human without children. Sometimes a person is ill. But not all children from our orphanages have been placed to families yet.”
The spokesperson of the Belarusian Orthodox Church archpriest Serhiy Lepin observed that monks vow celibacy, and priests with a rank of a bishop or higher are monks.
“A married priest cannot become a bishop without becoming a monk. All bishops of the Orthodox Church have no family according to rules. The head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church does not have a family, he is a monk,” Lepin said.
He also added: “We have no grounds to doubt that bishops of the Belarusian Orthodox Church preserve the vow of chastity and they live a godly life according to canons and moral teaching of the Orthodox Church.”
In his turn, a Roman Catholic Priest Yury Sanko who is an interim spokesperson of the Conference of Catholic priests in Belarus, said that all Catholic priests are not married, and consequently have no sexual life. “Chastity is one of the vows, which is made by a person knowingly, and it is very important for members of the Catholic Church,” father Yury Sanko said.
He noted that “priests are actively engaged in social work, they are teaching in Sunday schools, give support to families.” “A parish becomes a family for many of them. There is a family movement, which is supervised by priests, there is also a practice of spiritual fatherhood. Ministers help to raise their godchildren, giving an example by their words and deeds,” stressed the representative of the Belarusian Roman Catholic Church.

Kilde: http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/4/29/149577/

Demi Moore supports Statkevich

Famous Hollywood actress Demi Moore met with Andrei Sannikau, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, on the Sedona Forum organized by John McCain.

Demi Moore supported Belarusian political prisoners and signed a postcard to Mikalai Statkevich. Andrei Sannikau wrote it on his Facebook page.

"I met with Demi Moore at the Sedona Forum held by the Senator McCain and told her about political prisoners in Belarus. Demi who is now actively engaged in public activity asked to say them her solidarity, support and signed a postcard to Mikalai Statkevich: "Mikalai! Stay strong - you are not forgotten! And Zhyvie Belarus! ("Long live Belarus!"). Demi Moore", Andrei Sannikau said.

Sedona Forum is an annual event held by John McCain Institute. It is attended by the most prominent US and international politicians and experts. The forum has been taking place since 2012 in Sedona, Arizona.

Kilde: http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/4/27/149173/