The European Union should demonstrate that it wants to see Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova as a part of itself at Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

Riga Summit should give signals to Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova that it wants to see these countries as a part of the European Union. Russian counteraction to European integration of the three countries seriously weakens European forces inside these countries. That is why Eastern Partnership leaders strongly need moral support on the part of the EU.

In the interview with the EuroBelarus Information Service Ulad Vialichka, the Director General of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, explained the motives of the address Belarusan National Civil Society Forum made to the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit on April 15.

— What message to the Riga Summit the address Belarusan National Civil Society Forum put in the appeal “Anent the recognition of the European perspective for the countries of EaP”?

— The appeal is conveyed in the word combination “European perspective”. Belarusan appeal is an appeal of solidarity with those countries of the EaP, where integration process is going much quicker and more successfully, but at the same time faces serious inhibitions such as Russian counteraction to the European integration process. That is why it was important to us to indicate our interest so that Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine would really get a clear message re European perspective in the short- or middle-term perspective at the Riga Summit. They made a lot of work and even more work is awaiting them, but nevertheless the societies of these countries strongly need such message on the part of the European Union. We assume that such appeal should appear at the Riga Summit.

— What should be the form of recognition of Ukraine’s, Moldova’s, and Georgia’s rights for European perspective despite Russia’s aggression against a number of Eastern Partnership countries? Should the countries get certain guarantees?

— No, they shouldn’t. Europe that isn’t in its best state today can hardly articulate what are its geopolitical and civilization interests. In that meaning Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, being adherents of European values and European way of life, European norms and standards, strongly need certain interest on the part of the EU; demonstration, that it wants to see Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova as a part of itself. And it doesn’t matter when it will happen — it is the aim that matters.

However, EU citizens are skeptical about any projects of Europe’s enlargement. And in this sense it isn’t clear whether Europe wants these countries to be a part of itself, and that seriously weakens the stance of European forces in these countries.

— Are European perspectives of Belarus considered in the appeal?

— No, not directly — today there are no prerequisites for that. However, we shouldn’t underestimate the possibility of recognizing European perspective for our neighbors. If the Riga Summit will be ready to declare such kind of statement re the countries-leaders of the EaP, it is obvious that Belarus can count on that, too — if it reaches at least the same progress that the countries-leaders of the EaP have reached. That is why admitting Euro-perspective of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova will be useful for Belarus anyway.