Vintsuk Viachorka: “Without political changes we will stay addicted to the Russian oil and gas drug”

Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed an agreement on energy cooperation, on October 10, at the energy supplies conference held in Vilnius. The parts agreed on launching a profitable corridor for transporting oil and gas from Caspian regions to the world market. In other words, the Baltic-Black Sea reservoir was discussed. Nevertheless, the economic commission of the Belarusian People’s Party (BPF) came up with the idea of creating the reservoir in early 90s. BPF leader Vintsuk Viachorka comments for the press-center of Charter’97 on the reasons for Belarus’ being out of the process:

“The responsibility for the situation when Belarus is out of the process is borne by the government of Kebich who assured that Russia would provide us with cheap energy resources for ever due to its geopolitical interests in Belarus. But the key, enormous responsibility is now borne by Lukashenka’s regime whose policy leads not only to isolation of Belarus but also to energy, and hence economic crisis in the country. Belarus needs radical political changes – first of all, the authorities must meet the 12 obligations presented by the European Union. Otherwise we will stay addicted to the Russian oil and gas drug, which would only enhance country’s isolation from Europe and the entire civilized world and would threaten country’s political independence,” Viachorka said.