Belarus opposition to win in dialogue with Europe?

The Belarusian opposition has eventually found a place in the dialogue with Europe, ex-presidential contender Alexander Kozulin told journalists during the Eastern Partnership summit in Prague.
This dialogue is for the benefit of the Belarusian opposition in the first place, suggests Piotr Martsev, the editor-in-chief of Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta.

Martsev: "This dialogu can produce influence on the opposition, its goals, tasks and operation, because at the moment the opposition works in vacuum. Currently, the opposition does not correspond the political tasks and the political reality with the way they work, I think if Western colleagues explain the Belarusian opposition how their work heeds to be done, this will possibly have some influence on the opposition".

Additionally, this dialogue is yet another source of information for Europe, reckons Martsev.



The Civic Forum took place in the framework of the EU summit in Prague with participation of civil activists from six member states of the Eastern Partership. Politician Alexander Milinkevich who attended the forum reckons this event was the first attempt to bring civil leaders togethers.

Milinkevich: "This forum is the first attempt to gather representatives of think tanks and the civil society. Belarus was represented quite widely. And, they discussed strategies, peculiarities in different countries, weak spots, human rights and freedoms, etc. There were working groups which developed some policies".

It is yet to be known when the second attempt will be made. However. Christian Hohman, a spokesoman for EU's Commission for External Relations, the date of a new forum will have been set by the end of the year. Besides, she said that the dialogue where the Belarusian civil society found a place is not bilateral. It also includes representatives of other Eastern Partnership member states. 



Former presidential contender Alexander Kozulin believes that such forums will result in expert assessments and the monitoring of situations in the countries, in the first place. However, no one gives any guarantees that this dialogue can become long-term. But the first important step has been made, said Kozulin.


With no guarantees from Europe, the Belarusian opposition bears even a greater responsibility for the duration of this dialogue.

Jacek Sariusz-Wolski, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission at the European Parliament, said Belarus would also be represented by the opposition during the next meeting on the Eastern Partnership in the fall in the framework of Euronest (European Neighborhood East). The meeting will be attended by 60 MEPs and 60 parliamentarians from the partnership member states -- 10 from each: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Since EU does not recognizes the legitimacy of the House of Representatives of Belarus, representatives of the Belarusian opposition will be invited to the meeting, according to Sariusz-Wolski. 



But Alexander Milinkevich said that Europe proposed several options, including the invitation of both Belarus lawmakers and the opposition. However, the Belarusian authorities have not yet given their consent to this proposal.

 


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