Lithuanian politologist: It's a strange forum

Miasnikovich was not officially invited to the 9th Lithuanian-Belarusian Forum in Klaipeda.

He arrived on invitation of Lithuanian businessmen, Vytis Jurkonis, a Lithuanian politologist and lecturer at Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, said in an interview with charter97.org. In his opinion, the forum with participation of the prime ministers of the the two countries looks at least strange in the context of the European policy.  

“Taking onto account the forthcoming Eastern Partnership summit, the economic forum does not look very attractive,” he said to charter97.org. “In the context of the EU policy,let's call it sanctions or restrictive measures, holding this forum looks at least strange.

We need to understand that it is the annual event that was intentionally scheduled for this time, not for September, to avoid wrong interpretation of signals and speculations on the start of the dialogue.”

In his opinion, the Belarusian regime tries to use Lithuania and Lithuanian businessmen to conduct its policy and meet its pragmatic interests. Despite Belarusian PM's insistent assurances of good neighborliness, the matter is not Belarus's deep love to Lithuania.

“We need to emphasise that it is more about a keen interest of the Belarusian regime. The economic forum takes place not because of deep love to Lithuania or intentions to cooperate and improve relations between Belarusians and Lithuanians. It is pragmatic interests of Aliaksandr Lukashenka and his team looking for alternatives in Europe,” Jurkonis thinks. “Our neighbourhood relations are inevitable, because we are neighbours. But one should understand that the regime uses both neighbourhood and economic forum for its purposes. The agenda is dictated by the needs of the Belarusian regime. It is really important for the regime.”

The expert stressed that Lithuania understands whom it deals with. If the forum is economic, why do the representatives of the government take part in the event?

“It is important to emphasise that the business forum should not be interpreted as legitimisation of Belarusian officials and so on. It is not so, because, as far as I know, Mikhail Miasnikovich and other persons didn't receive official invitations. They arrived in Lithuania on invitation of businessmen,” he said.

It should be reminded that the 9th Lithuanian-Belarusian Economic Forum was held in Klaipeda on April 18-19. The event attracted about 400 people, including 150 participants from Belarus. The prime ministers of Belarus and Lithuania as well as representatives of ministries of both countries gave speeches at the forum.