Javier Solana: «Dialogue could help move Belarus forward in her development»

EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana welcomes the organizing of the European March in Minsk and declares that the intention of the opposition to build a genuine dialogue with the authorities is an important and constructive step. The EU High Representative considers unacceptable the people to be imprisoned for displaying EU symbols or for expressing their political views. “Concrete co-operation needs to be based on shared values”, - Javier Solana declared in the exclusive interview to Charter’97 press centre.

-- The Belarusian opposition proposed a dialogue to the authorities with a goal to prevent an economic crisis and to launch a democratization process in the country. Is the European Union ready to further an intra-Belarusian dialogue and act as intermediary in case the authorities agree to cooperate with the opposition?

-- Let me first of all warmly welcome the fact that civil society and the opposition have sent a clear message of wanting to build genuine dialogue with the authorities. This is an important and constructive step. I would hope the authorities would also welcome this offer. Dialogue could help move Belarus forward in her development.

For any dialogue to be successful, it needs to be first and foremost a domestic process. If such a dialogue would start, we would be following it very closely. Any outside participation is only possible if requested by both sides.

-- The European March is to be held on October 14 in Minsk to show support for the EU document “What the EU could bring to Belarus.” The organizers of the European March have come out with a proposal for the authorities to hold the action together. If it happens will the EU take it as a positive signal? Could the proposal made by the opposition influence the normalization process in the relations between Belarus and the European Union?

-- The European march of 14 October is planned to be a peaceful event, bringing together wide strata of Belarusian society. It is held in support of closer relations between Belarus and the EU. This is something we support.

Representatives of civil society have underlined the non-confrontational nature of the project. As with the dialogue initiative mentioned above, I warmly welcome the organisers’ offer to work together with the authorities in organising the march. In this context, I wish to express my surprise and dismay over the 15 -day prison sentences passed on a group of the march's organisers. They are now prevented from participation in the event. This sends a very negative signal.

The EU would naturally welcome a joint effort by civil society and the authorities, which would reflect popular consensus in Belarus on closer relations with the EU. If, as a result, the authorities respond to our concerns about the situation in the country, it would allow us to develop our relations

-- This year the Belarusian authorities have repeatedly expressed a desire to cooperate with Europe. Meanwhile Belarus is the only European state where the citizens are put in jail for displaying the documents, flags and symbols of the European Union, as is happening today. Will the Europe-oriented people get the support of the European Union?

-- The key to deepening our relationship remains with the Belarusian leadership. The EU has sent a clear message that it wants to build a closer relationship with Belarus, including extending all the benefits of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Wide-ranging EU - Belarus co-operation would be very beneficial for both sides.

The Belarusian leadership has indicated publicly that it too would want this co-operation, especially on energy and transport. However, concrete co-operation needs to be based on shared values. For us to be able to engage fully, we would need to see very concrete steps by the Belarusian government in response to our well-known concerns. One absolutely fundamental step would be the freeing of all political prisoners.

I agree with you that it is wholly unacceptable for people to be imprisoned for displaying EU symbols, or for that matter for expressing their political views. We are watching such developments very closely, and continue to react strongly when we need to.

-- You are known to be one of the architects of the united Europe, is there a chance for Belarus to become a member of the European Union in future?

-- Due to the choices made by the Belarusian leadership, the EU - Belarus relationship is still very much in its early stages. The EU wants to engage with Belarus in the same way it does with Ukraine and Moldova, and based on the same values.

I have said in relation to Ukraine that the quality and depth of our relationship depends on the quality of Ukraine's democracy and reforms. The same is very much true for Belarus as well. We have a long way ahead of us in building a close relationship. I hope that the Belarusian leadership will finally act and put in place conditions allowing Belarus to catch up with its more successful neighbours.