Karel Schwarzenberg: It is safer for Belarus to be with West (video)

Karel Schwarzenberg, chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee at the Czech Republic's parliament, former Czech foreign minister and the chief of staff at the Office of President Václav Havel took part in the events in the frames of Week Against Death Penalty in Belarus that are now taking place in Minsk. Euroradio talked to this prominent Czech politician at the Y Gallery ahead of his public lecture.

Euroradio: Mr Schwarzenberg, how and when was death penalty abolished in Czech Republic?

Karel Schwarzenberg: Death penalty was abolished after 1990, after the revolution. Since then, all universal rights and freedoms have been in place. If I am not mistaken, death penalty was applied for the last time in Czech Republic in 1989.

Was Czech society ready for this step or was it a ruling from above?

The decision was taken by the democratically elected parliament and endorsed by the president.

What is the attitude of people in Czech Republic towards death penalty today? Do people think it should be returned?

Obviously, when a grave crime is committed (when a child or a woman is killed), there may always be people who speak out in favor of death penalty. But the majority of population knows that this is the road to hell. We had enough executions in the 20th century.

In Belarus, people are not that unanimous with regard to death penalty. Many continue to suport capital punishment. What convincing arguments can you put forward against death penalty?

Firstly, every human being has the right to life. Secondly, death penalty can be misused - such cases were in abundance in the 20th century. Thirdly, there is always a chance for judicial error - that also happened a lot. I must stress that sometimes human rights need to be protected from the majority of people. In the 20th century, there were moments when the majority of people supported inhuman steps but luckily there were those few who stood up against them.

Do you think there is a policy of double standards? For example, death penalty is applied in the United States, while the European Union wants Belarus to abolish it.

Karel Schwarzenberg: Many politicians oppose death penalty also in the US. Our position is that it should be abolished everywhere. As for Belarus, there is no pressure here but obviously, we wish that death penalty is abolished in every European nation.

How people in Czech Republic perceive the developments in Ukraine? One can get an impression that many Czechs support Russia's cause.

If parts of a neighboring сountry are occupied and there are people fighting there, this means war by all definitions. According to pollsters, the majority of Czech Republic's population support Ukraine in this issue. However, there is a minority which unfortunately supports Russia. This is a powerful minority which also includes very influential people.

You called on EU member states to help Ukraine with weapons...

When one side in the conflict is armed with the latest Russian weapons and those weapons are freely supplied across the border and the other side (Ukraine) has only outdated weapons, it is very logical to support them with modern weapons. Obviously, views may differ on this but I think help should be provided to the victim not to the one who attacks.

In your opinion, how and when can the situaion in Ukraine be resolved?

The conflict can be resolved when Russia backs off from its claims but this will not happen. Therefore, unfortunately, I do not see any solution for this conflict in the near future. I reckon it will continue for a very long time.

Today you have met with Belarus' foreign minister Uladzimir Makei. If it is not a secret, what did you talk about?

We talked about the relations between Belarus and European Union, about the existing problems, because Belarus is also part of Europe, a European nation.

Do you have an impression that in the context of the conflict in Ukraine and in the light of forthcoming presidential elections in Belarus, authorities in Minsk are once again ready to re-orient towards West?

Belarus has always looked simultaneously both at the West and the East, looking for where it is safer. I reckon it is currently safer in the West for Belarus.

You were in Belarus in 2009 before the 2010 presidential elections. Belarus will elect the president next year. In your opinion, how has Belarus changed over these past five years?

My current visit is too short so that I could spot any huge changes. But I hope the situation after the next elections will not be repeated when former presidential candidates ended up in prison.

What do you think awaits Lukashenka next year?

What happens every time - the same victory.

Your presidential campaign was rather extraordinary. Can you advise something to opposition leaders in Belarus?

I find it difficult to advise to Belarusian candidates, because the elections in Czech Republic took place in the situation which differs greatly from your situation. We had free elections, with the candidates enjoying access to various media outlets and having much more opportunities to communicate with voters, etc. This can hardly be compared.

Many in Belarus increasingly believe that Lukashenka is the guarantor of Belarus' independence - if he disappears, Russia will play the Ukrainian scenario here as well...

First, one should determine what independence is!

For example, independence from Russia!

Are you independent now?

To some degree, yes. We have our currency, our schools. I speak Belarusian to you... Looking at economy and politics, the situation is much more complex. But Czech Republic is also dependent on Russia to some degree...

Czech Republic does not depend on Russia as much as Belarus does - this is a key moment. If a country depends economically on several countries, then it is less dependent than when there is only one country. If Belarus were more dependent on the European Union economically, it would be better.

Karel Schwarzenberg was born in 1937 into a Czech noble family that emmigrated to Austria after the Communist coup d'etat in 1948. In 1984-1991, he was the president of International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. In early 1990s, he served as Chief of Staff at the Office of Czech Republic's President Václav Havel. In 2007-2009 and again in 2010-2013, he served as Czech Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister. In 2013, he was running for presidency but lost in the runoff with 45.19% of votes. Currently, he serves as Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee at the Czech Parliament and is the chair of the Czech Liberal Conservative Party ТОР 09.