Shall Belarus expect "defrosting" of relations with EU?

On February, 9, EU’s representative Gunnar Wiegand spoke with the leaders of the Belarusian opposition and civil society after the meeting in the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
 
Vital Rymasheuski, who was present at the meeting, shares his thoughts with Euroradio:

"I think that it is too early to speak about the defrosting of the relationship. This visit is connected with the declaration of the conditions under which the EU is ready to talk to the Belarusian authorities. At present moment, it was stated that the EU was still considering the democratic forces of Belarus and civil society as a participant in the negotiations with the Belarusian authorities. "

According to Vital Rymasheuski, everything  that was announced does not go beyond the three-steps strategy of the united democratic opposition. The strategy, besides, prescribes release of political prisoners, a common plan to reform the Belarusian economy and holding of free elections.
 
Vital Rymasheuski: "The EU’s position does not contradict moral principles so far. It was also announced that the Belarusian authorities might release some of the political prisoners in the coming weeks, but this is only an opinion and not a clear promise of the authorities. "
 
At the same time, political analyst Ales Lahvinets believes that if the authorities  release any of political prisoners it won’t be someone famous. Such move is not likely to satisfy the European Union.
 
Ales Lahvinets: "I think that the EU proposes to zero out those relationships that have been before. And the most important problem is the existence of political prisoners. A concrete step is expected from the Belarusian authorities. "
 
One of the issues discussed during the meeting was the establishment of expert commissions, which should focus on the transformation of the country in various fields. It is expected that they will include representatives from both the opposition and the official Belarusian authorities. In Ales Lahvinets’ opinion, creation of such commissions seems quite real.
 
Ales Lahvinets: "The question is how strongly the authorities wish to do it, and whether they will be capable of realizing the elaborated suggestions afterwards. Another question is whether the government can establish a public dialogue without applying the mechanisms of force”.
 
Let us remind you, Gunnar Wiegand is the Head of the European Commission's Unit for Relations with Russia as well as the acting director for Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus, and Central Asia, in the Commission's Directorate-General for External Relations and OSCE. It was him who announced the intention to expand the EU's "list of banned Belarusian officials”, adding 135 persons to it, back on January 12.
 
Photo: mediamax.am