Lithuanian defence minister: Belarus's policy in human rights sector slows down cooperation

The Minister of Defence of Lithuania, Juozas Olekas, told charter97.org about relations with Belarus.

Lithuania's defence minister is confident that the problem of democracy, observance of human rights by the Belarusian authorities and human rights abuses have impact on cooperation between the countries in the security sector. According to him, the level of Lithuania and the EU's cooperation with Belarus is considerably lower than with other countries of the Eastern Partnership programme. The relations lack transparency, he notes adding that closer cooperation with Russia in the military sector weakens Belarus's sovereignty.

“We cooperate with Belarus on a lower level (than with other EaP countries – charter97.org) and exchange information on the level of experts and the military. Perhaps we should deepen the cooperation, but in my opinion, Belarus's position and actions by the Belarusian authorities in the human rights sector slows down cooperation in the security sector,” Jouzas Olekas said.

Asked about the challenges from Lithuania's unordinary and unstable neighbour, he answered he “believes in Belarus's future”, but didn't see a democratic climate and respect for human rights in the country.

“We believe in Belarus's future and wish it to be a democratic and successful state with a developed economy and respect for human rights,” the Lithuanian ministry of defence said. “Unfortunately, we don't see it today. We observe a great number of human rights violations. Like our partners from other EU countries, we express our deep concern. We wish Belarus all the best and good luck in developing a democracy, becoming a European society, adopting the values of democratic countries, but the above mentioned faults make our cooperation complicated. We try to continue our cooperation on a certain level exchanging information, including that in the security and defence sector.”

What concerns close military ties between Belarus and Russia, a joint air defence system and Russia's attempts to increase its military presence in Belarus, Olekas says that closer military cooperation with Russia weakens Belarus's sovereignty. Though not only Belarus but also Russia is in fact present on the borders of Lithuania and the EU, the Lithuanian minister stresses it is a border with Belarus.

“I think we need to say about a border with Belarus, because we recognise its sovereignty. We have a border with Russia to the west. But setting up new air bases and other similar actions undoubtedly weaken Belarus's sovereignty,” he sums up.

It should be reminded that Lithuania's ministry of defence Olekas replaces the country's foreign minister Linas Linkevičius during his vacation.