Alyaksandr Milinkevich: “It’s very important for us to build dialog between EU and regime”
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14:56, — Politics
“Policy shouldn’t be primitive like struggle for moral values. I stand for reducing 12 conditions of the European Commission to three ones,” leader of the “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich said.
As Deutsche Welle and Milinkevich’s website inform, leaders of the Belarusian opposition met with representatives of the European People’s Party in Vilnius. Former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin demonstrated to the western public his intention to cooperate with Alyaksandr Milinkevich.
It has been the first time after Alyaksandr Kazulin’s release from prison when he had an official meeting with Alyaksandr Milinkevich, his former competitor in the struggle for the democratic electorate. The both politicians demonstrate their willingness to be on the same side of the fence and collaborate.
For simplification of requirements
Milinkevich ahs called on the West to change the strategy, have more pragmatic attitude towards the situation in Belarus and begin an active dialog even with the current regime: “it is very important for us to build a dialog between the EU and the regime on this stage. I don’t believe a dictator may turn into a democrat in one day. He won’t be a democrat, but he is interested that Russia won’t annex Belarus, because he will mean nothing then.”
Milinkevich called on the European Union to simplify the requirements for the Belarusian regime: “I stand for reducing 12 conditions of the European Commission to three ones. Of course, if the regime makes a certain step, the EU should make a step in response.”
The former presidential candidate believes the opposition shouldn’t be outside the dialog between the West and the Belarusian authorities: “We should take part in this policy because known the situation in Belarus well like no one else. The policy shouldn’t be primitive like struggle for moral values>”
Differences in opinions
In the meantime, Alyaksandr Kazulin thinks having begun a pragmatic dialog with Lukashenka, the West shouldn’t forget problems of values. He also didn’t agree with Milinkevich, who fears Belarus faces a great danger of loss of independence.
“Any aspect of loss of independence means loss of personal power of Lukashenka. A new generation grew up in or country, and as soon as a danger of loss of independence arises in Belarus, people will appear who will defend the independence with arms. If a danger comes, I will take arms and will defend my country, too,” the former political prisoner said.
Contradictions between the opposition parties concerning running or non-running in the “parliamentary election” were revealed at the Vilnius conference, though the opposition has a common opinion that the “election” will be rigged.
However, according to the democratic forces, they receive more and more signs that Europe is ready to recognise the new “house of representatives” and review its isolationist policy towards Belarus, even if progress in “election” organisation will be insignificant.
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