Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 10 October (BelTA) – Belarusian MPs learned with regret about the recent Strasbourg Resolution of the European Parliament on media freedom. MEPs need to revise their approaches to contacts with Belarus, Deputy Chairperson of the House of Representatives’ Standing Commission on International Affairs Olga Popko told BelTA.

All previous ultimatum declarations of the EU in respect to Belarus have led to nowhere. On the contrary, the interaction began to develop only when criticism became constructive, not “image-based.” “I believe that the European Parliament needs to reconsider approaches to contacts with Belarus. We are ready to conduct an open constructive dialogue on any, even difficult issues, but on the principles of equality and mutual respect,” the MP stressed.

She stated: “The European Parliament is still subject to the influence of some organizations and groups that pursue narrow interests and prefer destruction over creation”. This is evidenced by the new resolution on media freedom in Belarus.

“MEPs continue to make loud but unfounded allegations. They are often poorly informed about the situation in Belarus. Instead of focusing on constructive interaction, some deputies who participated in the discussion opted for loud words on the protection of the freedom of the press and democracy with a view to promoting their election campaigns. However, such demagoguery is flawed and unlikely to be effective,” Olga Popko said.