Opinions & Interviews

Opinion: Belarus does not want to be caught in the middle of great-power rivalry

MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) - It is important for Belarus to help the geopolitical centers of power reconcile their interests rather than to be caught in the middle of great-power rivalry, MP Valery Voronetsky said as he addressed the meeting of the Expert Community project – “Analyzing Belarus: Facts and Fiction” in BelTA’s press center on 11 December.

About a dozen and a half analytical reports about Belarus were issued this year, the experts noted. The theme of Belarus is touched upon during opinion polls and meetings of experts. It was raised at the recent hearings in the U.S. Congress. The context is the struggle of major powers for spheres of influence. That was what President Aleksandr Lukashenko talked about in his address to the members of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic on 5 December. The Expert Community project discussed why Belarus has become such an important factor in European  geopolitics.

Valery Voronetsky believes that the attention to Belarus is justified and is caused by objective reasons. Belarus’ geography shapes the political situation around it. It borders on Russia, Ukraine, EU countries, and maintains respectful, friendly relations with everyone. “We can shape a new model of relations between the geopolitical centers of power. We want them to cooperate rather than fight for us. It is important that we help them harmonize their interests and ensure dialogue between them,” the MP said.

In this situation Belarus primarily promotes its national interests, the MP added. It was many times in history when the Belarusian state was the center stage of the most important events. “Many threads converge in Belarus. Historical context matters. So do objective reality and the geopolitical position. There is every reason to believe that the country’s role will be growing,” Valery Voronetsky said.

For his part, Oleg Makarov, director of the  Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR), added that Belarus has attracted international attention thanks to its peaceful initiatives. It literally stormed into the global agenda and aroused a lot of interest.

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