Stanislau Shushkevich: “When USA had imposed sanctions, they led to changes”
- 19.11.2009, 12:55
The former chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus thinks “sanctions should be applied expertly”.
The EU foreign ministers made a decision in Brussels on November 17 on further suspension of the sanctions on certain Belarusian officials. Former chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich told in an interview to Euramost. org that “the European sanctions are not affective and never were”.
– A decision on further suspension of the sanctions is normal. However, I think harsher actions are needed in the current situation,” Shushkevich says. “Frankly speaking, I do not see any effects in these sanctions. They are not effective and never were. This is because we lack the main thing – changes in the country. But it is logical to adopt a decision.
– What are the prospects?
– I see no prospects as long as we are behaving in such a disgusting way. What changes are possible if we hear just talks? The elections will be held in a year, but we hear just words. They will deal with the Electoral Code for six months. We must choose either democracy or talks about democracy. The authorities can use administrative leverage, they can do whatever they want. They have many opportunities for lawlessness in all areas. We have some toadies who lost their honour. I think we won’t see any changes as long as they have power. The Ministry of Culture is probably an exception – they have human dignity.
– Should we make a fuss over the sanctions if they have no effect?
– You know, it was a personal decision of Europe to impose sanctions, so let them solve the situation themselves. My opinion is that sanctions should be applied expertly. When the US had imposed financial sanctions, they led to changes. A separate thing should have been a target. When the accounts had been frozen, this affected those who were close to the country’s leadership. But European sanctions... Well, Sivakou is not allowed in Europe. I think he is not upset. I am sure he is not starving.
