On the eve of the 5^th meeting of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Belarusan National Platform focused the attention of its colleagues and international community at the most topical issues.

The representatives of the civil society in Belarus, members of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, on the eve of the 5^th meeting of the Forum which is to take place in Chisinau on October 3-5, 2013, have called on their colleagues in civil society organizations in the partner countries and the European Union with an overview of the current state of the Eastern Partnership, as well as with their view on the challenges and prospects for its development as an important long-term initiative of the European Union in its relations with the neighboring countries, and for the development of the EaP Civil Society Forum as an important part of this initiative.

What is put on paper and what is put into practice are two different things

The overview of the situation in the Eastern Partnership included a number of aspects which are important from the point of view of the participants of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Belarus. The above mentioned appeal specifies that “it is slightly taken into account that even in the leader countries of the rapprochement processes with the EU there is a “selective democracy”, “selective separation of power”, “selective regulation”, “selective self-governance”, “selective market economy”, “selective judicial independence”, “selective civil society”, and there is generally little existing in its normal forms.”

“To a certain degree, it can be referred to all the countries of the Eastern Partnership,” stated in the interview with the EuroBelarus Information Service Yaroslav Bekish, the member of the Coordination Committee of the National Platform of the EaP CSF, member of the Steering Committee of the EaP CSF and the leader of the Ecological Association “Green Alliance”. According to him, such “selectiveness” is typical for all post-Soviet countries, not only Belarus. In some of them these processes have been untouched; whereas in other countries there is certain progress: “In this regard, Georgia is one of the most progressive countries. The progress in Ukraine is also evident, despite all sorts of examples. On the whole, we should treat it as a normal process, as there can be no big leaps in several years. Eastern Partnership exists only for five years; it would be odd to expect tremendous changes over this time.”

However, Belarus and Azerbaijan stand out from the Eastern Partnership general context: “If we talk about our country in particular, Belarus doesn’t move in any direction. The same half-legal, half-democratic norms are used in our country: what is put on paper and what is put into practice are usually two different things. It seems to me, that the changes that are happening in Belarus are so insignificant that we only run round in circles.”

European initiatives can run out

The appeal of the Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF also says that “A new period after the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU by a number of countries will implicate less attention from the EU towards the second group of non-associated EaP partner countries regarding their situation and challenges. At best, everything will remain at the same level — the EU will continue contributing to the progress of formal signing of the agreements, at worst - the European Union will put relations with these countries in “standby mode” and wait until the partner countries’ internal motivation changes. For Belarus as for the most lagging country in terms of the development of relations with the EU, and for its civil society, this situation does not bode well. Ideally, it is necessary that the EU, on the contrary, increase its attention to the problems of our countries, guided by the Eastern Partnership principle of regionalization. For the European Union, the loss of Belarus, Azerbaijan or Armenia out of the EU rapprochement process undermines the geopolitical sense of the partnership. It will lead to strategic defeat, even in the presence of temporary tactical victories.”

Nevertheless, it is not entirely right to think that even considered from this angle, Belarus is an absolute outsider, believes Yaroslav Bekish: “These three countries — Azerbaijan, Belarus and Armenia — are in absolutely different situations. However, we should understand that with the disappointments in regard to our country there can be even a refusal of any activities and initiatives on the side of the EU. It can turn out so that only Belarus will take these steps; whereas European Union won’t have anything to offer.”

Timeworn offers are now again timely

“In recent years the Civil Society Forum has solved the major structural issues, but it has lost the political and strategic dynamics which should be restored. Thus, to solve this issue, along with the Secretariat, acting and gaining potential, there is need of a strong and politically motivated composition of the Steering Committee, being able to fulfill this function,” note the representatives of the Belarusan National Platform in their appeal.

Yaraslau Bekish, one of the leaders of the National Platform, fully shares the consolidated stance of his colleagues: “Europe is well aware that Eastern Partnership was created to be a complex program aimed at the whole region. And if we fulfill it only partially, it is almost the same as if haven’t fulfilled it at all. All-or-none law is working here. Of course, we are talking about a long-term prospective; intermediate result in partly positive, but it doesn’t lead to the fully positive final result. For now we can talk only about some tactical, not strategic achievements, both for the Europeans as well as for the civil society in the Eastern Partnership countries, including Belarus.”

As the appeal says, “In order to give to the Eastern Partnership a new impetus able to provide achievement of the goals and objectives put for this initiative, the Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum expresses its readiness for a more detailed presentation of the above items at the 5^th meeting of the EaP CSF in Chisinau on October 3-5, 2013. It expresses its readiness, as well, for a more active and regular participation in the dialogue on the development of the Eastern Partnership as a whole and the Civil Society Forum in particular, with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the EU Council, as well as with all the other EaP actors, and primarily with the Steering Committee, the Secretariat and the National Platforms of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.”

“In this regard suggestions about the role of the National Platform submitted as far back as 2010 gain additional currency today,” emphasizes Yaroslav Bekish.