Raman Yakauleuski: Lukashenka will hardly be invited to Eastern Partnership Forum
4- 8.05.2013, 15:10
It's difficult to suppose that the Belarusian ruler, a persona non grata in Europe, will officially be invited to the forum in Vilnius.
The Belarusian authorities sound a reaction of the EU or hint at the country's readiness to boycott the Eastern Partnership Summit, political observer explains the statement made by the Belarusian ambassador to Germany.
Political observer Raman Yakauleuski gave an interview to udf.by and spoke whether personal invitation to Lukashenka to Vilnius was possible.
“This statement looks more than uncertain and untimely while political prisoners remain in jails. It's hard to suppose that Lukashenka, a persona non grata in Europe, will officially be invited to the forum. Representatives of official Vilnius already said that the persons banned from entering the EU would not be invited to the summit. The statement by Hiro may be explained as probing a reaction of the EU or a hint at the country's readiness to ignore the Vilnius Summit as it was with the previous one in Warsaw, where even invited foreign minister didn't appear. Unlike him, the current minister, as well as his boss, is still a persona non grata,” Raman Yakauleuski said.
The expert doesn't think Makei will be removed from the visa ban list in the nearest future.
“As for a possibility of lifting the visa ban. Some EU officials and politologists talk about it trying to please the regime, but the EU has not changed its official position, because Belarus still has political prisoners. All prospects for changing the situation remain vague,” he said.
Raman Yakauleuski stressed if the situation was not changed, the Belarusian authorities would ignore the Vilnius forum.
It should be reminded that Minsk expects an invitation to the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius to be sent to Lukashenka. The Belarusian side wants to decide who will represent the country at the forum. This statement was made by Belarusian Ambassador to Germany Andrei Hiro at a conference in Berlin on May 7.
