Łukašenka diplomacy has failed, Cichanoŭskaja adviser says after summit

May 19, BPN. The Belarusian foreign ministry’s criticism of the Council of Europe summit declaration stems from Alaksandr Łukašenka’s diplomatic failure, an adviser to Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has said.

Ministry spokesman Anatol Hłaz said yesterday that Europe’s largest human rights organization chose a “discriminatory course” towards Belarus and developed contacts with “extremists” who call for sanctions and terrorism against the republic.

Franak Viačorka, who accompanied Cichanoŭskaja to the summit in Reykjavik this week, told BPN that the Belarusian authorities have lost their ability to balance between East and West and have been isolated from international funds and projects.

He said that Cichanoŭskaja, who represents the Belarusian democratic movement, communicated with more than 40 heads of state, something Łukašenka has never been able to achieve. She was invited even though Belarus is not a member of the organization.

Viačorka said that the summit declaration is historic, as it formalizes the cooperation with the democratic forces and civil society and pledges to continue the contact group established last year.