Poland’s NATO experience important for Belarus – opposition politician

March 19, Pozirk. Poland’s experience in NATO is important for Belarus threatened by “criminal and irresponsible actions of the illegal authorities,” said Valeryj Kavaleŭski, the Belarusian opposition’s foreign policy chief.

Commenting on a conference that marked 25 years of Poland’s membership in NATO on March 18, the politician praised the bloc for providing security and basic conditions for Poland’s sustainable development.

Belarusians share the universal values represented by NATO, including individual freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the transition cabinet’s press office reported, citing him as saying.  

Kavaleŭski attended the event along with Michał Szczerba, president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Katarzyna Pisarska of the Warsaw Security Forum, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Marcin Kosiniak-Kamysz and Boris Ruge, a NATO assistant secretary general.

Belarusian pro-democracy forces seek Belarus’ withdrawal from the Russia-led Union State and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, discussing possibilities of Belarus joining NATO after the country returns on a path to democracy.