If Aliaksandr Lukashenka wants changes in European Union policy, he must sit down at the negotiating table with Belarusian society and the democratic forces. This was stated by Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka at the Kościuszko Forum.
“Nothing about us without us. Every Pole knows these words, and I think they are important to every Pole. They are important to us as well. It is essential that the fate of Belarusians is not decided over our heads through direct communication with Lukashenka. It is very important to convey a clear message to Lukashenka: if he wants any changes in the policy of the European Union, he must first sit down at the negotiating table with Belarusian society, with the democratic forces, and with civil society.
This strategy has been adopted by the United Transitional Cabinet, and I hope it will become an initiative of our faction at one of the first sessions of the Coordination Council. We will put it to a vote so that it is also approved by the representative body,” he said.
Latushka also noted that he often hears arguments that Belarus should not be a priority until the situation in Russia changes. He said this approach is misguided.
“I very often hear voices saying that there is no point in dealing with Belarus until the situation in Russia changes. I absolutely disagree with this approach. If you like, it is an imperial approach and a view based on Russia’s interests. It is yet another attempt to leave Belarus and the Belarusian people in the same basket as the Russian Federation. When we say that everything depends on Russia, we are effectively denying agency to the Belarusian people. And as a Belarusian, I will never agree with that.
Our strategy as the United Transitional Cabinet is national dialogue. We are proposing a tool for implementing this national dialogue — a Round Table. How can it be achieved? We are pursuing this strategy and asking our European partners to remain firm and not decide our fate without us,” he said.
