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Belarus and EU should develop roadmap for normalizing their relations, Milinkevich says

Belarus and the European Union (EU) should develop a roadmap for normalizing their relations, former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich said in an interview with BelaPAN.

During an international conference that was held in Vilnius between September 5 and 8 and was titled, "The European Neighborhood Policy: Will the Parliamentary Elections in Belarus Be a Democratic Choice?" Mr. Milinkevich delivered a speech about possible rapprochement between Belarus and the EU.

"It is necessary for both sides to be consistent in their steps and commitments," Mr. Milinkevich told BelaPAN. The EU's 12 conditions for Belarus "should stay as they were," he said. "These conditions are appropriate, it's necessary to press Belarusian authorities to meet them. However, they're unable to meet them all at once." That is why it is necessary to begin with the three most important conditions, namely, the release of political prisoners, the restoration of media freedom, and the conduct of democratic elections, the politician suggested.

Political prisoners have already been freed, but there are still the sentences against opposition youths convicted over their participation in an unsanctioned demonstration that was staged in downtown Minsk in January, Mr. Milinkevich said. In particular, seven opposition youths were sentenced to “corrective labor at the place of residence,” which means that a certain amount will be deducted from their income during the two years, and three were sentenced to "restricted freedom terms."

"There's been no progress regarding media freedom," Mr. Milinkevich said. "Although cosmetic changes to the election process have been made, the [parliamentary] elections will be the same, as almost no representatives of pro-democratic candidates were included in precinct election commissions."

It is necessary for Belarus to establish good relations with the EU as soon as possible, Mr. Milinkevich said. "Our country's dependence on Russia is fast increasing," he noted. " In a few years, the dangerous loans that we're taking may lead to a disastrous situation where we don't have economic freedom and are totally dependent on Russia."

Another reason it is necessary to have normal relations with Europe is because the EU alone can seriously help Belarus with reforming its economy, Mr. Milinkevich said. "If Belarus meets the 12 conditions, the European Union will be able to help the country modernize and thus strengthen its independence," he noted.

To encourage the Belarusian government to take new steps toward democratization, the EU may "partially or fully lift all sanctions, gradually restore Belarus' [trade] preferences, and help its implement reforms," Mr. Milinkevich said. "As for those who oppose the removal of the sanctions, saying that this may halt the democratization process, I'd reply very calmly that sanctions can be imposed again overnight. It's necessary for the EU to demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions so that the Belarusian government's distrust gives way to belief that this process is positive for our country."