Expert Discussion “Belarus: Lost in Translation”
September 16, 09:30 – 13:00
Radisson Blu Hotel Rīdzene
Reimersa str. 1, Riga
“If the West intends to change Belarus, a serious “de-mythization” of it should first take place to choose the right policy, and most importantly to find the right formula of assistance strategy that would promote the European values as the alternative for the current state of Belarus. The world should finally recognize that Belarus does not have a problem because it has Lukashenka, but it has Lukashenka because Belarus has a problem.”
Balazs Jarabik, Head of Pact Ukraine for the Riga Conference Papers 2011
In order to build the based-on-reality approach towards Belarus, and to build the effective and meaningful policy in a way that does not compromise the overall values of democracy that the West stands for, or threatens the economic interests of its neighbors in the context of what risks becoming a total crisis in Belarus, there is an acute need to understand and accept the causes and consequences of the current situation in Belarus in the first place. Therefore, developing a greater understanding of Belarus is the only way towards a well-balanced policy that does not exclude a pragmatic approach and interests for the sake of democratic reforms in Belarus and vice versa.
Experts will discuss the following: What are the causes of the current crisis in Belarus? What are the scenarios of its further development? What consequences will social and political stability of the Belarus crisis bring? What should the policy towards a Belarus that is now facing crisis be? Is there a balance between wishful thinking of the West and pragmatic interests of individual countries towards Belarus?
Programme
9:30 Registration
10:00 – 11:30 Discussion about causes of the current crisis in Belarus, scenarious of further development and consequences to social and political stability of Belarus
11:30 – 11:45 Coffee break
11:45 – 13:00 Discussion about policy towards Belarus in crisis and how to balance between wishful thinking of the West and pragmatic interests of individual countries
Speakers
Mr. Sergei Kizima, Head of the Department of International Relations, Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus
Mr.Karel Kovanda, Deputy Director-General, External Relations,
Europeam Commission
Dr. Alexei Pikulik, Analyst of the Belarus Institute of Strategic Studies
Mr. Rafał Sadowski, Head of the Eastern Partnership Department of
the Centre for Eastern Studies
Mr. Andris Pelšs, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Latvia
Commentator: Dr. Andrew Wilson, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
Moderator: Mr. Viktors Makarovs, Director of policy centre EuroCivitas, Latvia
The registration for the event has already been closed