Uladzimir Matskevich: There is no use to look for sense in “situational politics”

We shouldn’t attach any importance to the monologue played for the audience, even if it lasts for five hours. Politics is formed differently.

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus” assumes that we shouldn’t attach any importance to the statements made by Aliaksandr Lukashenka on foreign politics, taking into account where and to whom it was said.

Let us recall that during the five-hour press conference organized for Russian journalists for the eleventh time, Belarusan President has mentioned EU-Belarus relations. Referring to the Ukraine’s plans to sign Association Agreement with the EU, Aliaksandr Lukashenka said “If they sign [any agreement] with the EU it is not a big deal. But they are running the danger of closing the door to us, to the Customs Union, to the Eurasian Union,” However, he claimed that “it is just fuss, Ukraine is 'our' country, 'our' people. Even if they enter NATO they will be ours”.

Lukashenka’s words can be interpreted differently; however, notes Uladzimir Matskevich, they hardly carry any meaning at all.

- There is nothing specifically strange in these statements, - noted in the commentaries given to the EuroBelarus Information Service Uladzimir Matskevich. – He always speaks with orientation to the public sympathies and antipathies, the public of this moment. He spoke to the correctly selected public; that is why I wouldn’t attach any attention to that. This monologue has nothing to do with the real politics, in which the above mentioned statesmen and Belarus in general are involved. Politics is formed differently. The habit of analysts and journalists to give importance to all sorts of situational statements leads to the fuss from nothing.

Let us also recall that before long Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius plans to visit Minsk in October to bring a blank invitation to an Eastern Partnership summit to be held in Vilnius in November 2013. Official invitation doesn’t state any specific surname, as Aliaksandr Lukashenka is currently subject to EU travel ban. Belarusan Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei is listed among the most probable candidatures to represent Belarus at the Summit.