Latvia’s eyes and ears in Belarus

By Dace Akule

Date: 19/01/06

Latvia will represent the EU presidency in Belarus in the first half of 2006, when a crucial presidential election will take place in what was dubbed the last dictatorship in Europe.

Latvia accepted an offer made by the Council of Ministers in late December under which it will have to inform the Belarussian authorities of EU decisions, represent EU interests and inform the EU institutions about events in Belarus.

It is also expected to co-ordinate the activities of member states with regard to Belarus. All tasks are to be performed in close co-operation with the Austrian EU presidency.

Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks believes the Council's offer is a sign of recognition for Latvian diplomacy. "This acknowledges that we are considered as experts whose opinions are important," Pabriks said. The stakes are important for Latvia and the Union, as prospects for a free and fair presidential election in Belarus, expected on 19 March, are slim. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled with an iron hand for 11-years, has strengthened his grip on the country's media.

Pabriks added that Latvian diplomats in Belarus would have to observe the situation very carefully because the quality of information given to EU institutions could influence their decisions.

According to some analysts, this task might put the Latvian government in an uneasy situation. "It has to balance values and long-term interests - such as freedom, democracy and market economy in Belarus - with short-term interests such as not upsetting Lukashenko for the benefit of the Latvian transit business," Peteris Vinkelis, deputy director of the Soros Foundation in Latvia, said. Roughly one third of the cargo in Latvian ports comes from Belarus, which could choose Lithuanian or Polish ports to gain access to the sea and Western markets.

Vinkelis also stressed the special timing of Latvia's mission, which will cover the March elections, and the necessity for the EU to give a clear message concerning the non- democratic nature of the Belarussian election process. "We'll see whether Latvia will be a content maker or only a broadcaster of that message," he said.

Latvia's task is also likely to be difficult because of the newly adopted Belarussian law making it a criminal offence to give false information on Belarus to foreign states or organisations, or to discredit Belarus or its government.

The EU currently supports Belarussian civil society, while maintaining restrictions on ministerial contacts with Minsk, as well as travel restrictions for high-ranking officials. Brussels is often criticised by human rights groups and experts for being too silent in addressing Lukashenko's regime. The policy under which the EU co-operates with the authorities in Minsk only if Belarus makes progress in democratisation has not been effective either.

The Union plans to start EU-funded independent television and radio broadcasts worth EUR 2 million before the presidential election.

Four projects have been short-listed in the tender - a bid put forward by a media groups and NGOs from Poland, a German-Russian partnership, a Lithuanian-Belarusian partnership and a Latvian project. It is hoped that independent broadcasts on local and foreign events in Belarussian and Russian will enhance the knowledge among the local population about

Article reports that following an offer by the EU's Council of Ministers in late December 2005, Latvia was to represent the EU Presidency in Belarus in the first half of 2006.

European Commission: DG External Relations: Countries: Belarus http://www.eeas.europa.eu/belarus/index_en.htm

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