Lord Bell: Belarus' image in Europe has improved
The famous PR guru tells the European Radio for Belarus that he continues cooperation with our country. Almost six months have passed since Alexander Lukashenka signed a conract with the UK-based PR guru Timothy Bell to improve the international image of Belarus. Have foreigners changed their views about Belarus.
Lord Bell told the European Radio for Belarus that he was continuing cooperation with the Belarusian president.
Lord Bell: Yes, we continue cooperating.
ERB: In your opinion, has Europe changed its attitude towards Belarus since you began working?
Lord Bell: If we look at the resolutions of the European Parliament and the abolition of visa sanctions, one has to admit that the attitude has improved.
Political commentator Yury Shevtsov also reckons that the image of Belarus abroad has improved thanks to the media.
Yury Shevtsov: It has definitely improved. We are not described as a dictatorship in every media any longer. There have been numerous positive publications about Belarus. This is excellent. Not only a contract with Lord Bell but the change of relations with the West have played a role.
ERB: How big is his role?
Yury Shautsou: No doubt, this lord and this PR is one of his activities. This is a strong politician, but this is only one politician. The West is more diverse. I think that this is a general trend.
ERB: You mentioned the western media. Which countries started writing positive things about Belarus?
Yury Shautsou: For instance, in Lithuania. The media in Poland sound more negative. Positive publications also appeared in Italy and even in the United States and in France. It seems like a general trend.
ERB: Will the tone of articles continue to get improved? Will they stop describing Belarus as Europe's last dictatorship?
Yury Shautsou: I think they will, because we are not going to change the thaw in relations with the West in the near future. We have done a lot in order to obtain a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), so there is no U-turn. I reckon while we are getting closer with the West, the number of negative publications about Belarus will be getting reduced.
Lord Bell told the European Radio for Belarus that he was continuing cooperation with the Belarusian president.
Lord Bell: Yes, we continue cooperating.
ERB: In your opinion, has Europe changed its attitude towards Belarus since you began working?
Lord Bell: If we look at the resolutions of the European Parliament and the abolition of visa sanctions, one has to admit that the attitude has improved.
Political commentator Yury Shevtsov also reckons that the image of Belarus abroad has improved thanks to the media.
Yury Shevtsov: It has definitely improved. We are not described as a dictatorship in every media any longer. There have been numerous positive publications about Belarus. This is excellent. Not only a contract with Lord Bell but the change of relations with the West have played a role.
ERB: How big is his role?
Yury Shautsou: No doubt, this lord and this PR is one of his activities. This is a strong politician, but this is only one politician. The West is more diverse. I think that this is a general trend.
ERB: You mentioned the western media. Which countries started writing positive things about Belarus?
Yury Shautsou: For instance, in Lithuania. The media in Poland sound more negative. Positive publications also appeared in Italy and even in the United States and in France. It seems like a general trend.
ERB: Will the tone of articles continue to get improved? Will they stop describing Belarus as Europe's last dictatorship?
Yury Shautsou: I think they will, because we are not going to change the thaw in relations with the West in the near future. We have done a lot in order to obtain a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), so there is no U-turn. I reckon while we are getting closer with the West, the number of negative publications about Belarus will be getting reduced.
