Opinions & Interviews

Makei: Only Belarusians should determine Belarus’ future

MINSK, 4 December (BelTA) – Only Belarusian people should determine the future of Belarus, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said during an online meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council on 3 December, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus is going through a difficult political period. Today’s areas of focus include the protection of public order, stability, sovereignty and the encouragement of social dialogue on the most important public issues within the framework of the ongoing constitutional reform”, the minister stressed. “Like any other OSCE participating state, we strive to establish the necessary balance between ensuring all rights and freedoms of citizens and maintaining an appropriate level of security and order in the society. As we all know, there are no universal solutions here. Only Belarusian people should determine the future of Belarus,” the minister said.

Vladimir Makei continued: “Social stresses, like in Belarus, arise in other OSCE participating states, too. Are the countries ‘west of Vienna’ ready to agree to OSCE mediation? Or this proposal applies, like always, only to the countries ‘east of Vienna’? We probably need to seriously discuss what exactly the OSCE chairmanship or the Troika can suggest in the event of similar social stresses, in addition to calls for ‘a transition of power’, with which I am sure no country will agree.”

Speaking about the unilateral and unjustified restrictive measures imposed by some OSCE participating states on Belarus, the minister said that Belarus views this policy of sanctions as pointless. “Sanctions, especially economic ones, never achieve the declared goals, but affect primarily ordinary people and deepen the gap of mistrust in the OSCE,” Vladimir Makei noted.

“Should we focus on finger-pointing and rhetoric of confrontation? Or is it better to focus on real security threats?” the minister asked a rhetorical question.

At the same time, Vladimir Makei emphasized that Belarus makes tangible contribution to the settlement of protracted conflicts in the OSCE area, to countering transnational challenges and threats, including the fight against human trafficking, and to the promotion of digitalization.

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