MP: Belarus has established itself as firm proponent of peace initiatives

Belarus has proven itself as a firm proponent of peace initiatives, and any dialogue with the country can be conducted exclusively on the principles of mutual respect, Sergei Klishevich, a member of the Standing Commission on Education, Culture, and Science of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, told BelTA.

The 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security was held on 3-4 November. In particular, the event focused on issues of military-political security, arms control, and military risk management.

“Today, the European Union countries and the United Kingdom are the primary stakeholders in prolonging the conflict in Ukraine. These very states have become the main driver of the war. For them, supporting peace initiatives or ending hostilities on Russia’s terms is equivalent to political death,” Sergei Klishevich said.According to him, having invested heavily in this war at the expense of their own citizens, many European politicians have effectively become hostages of the conflict. “Now their political fate directly depends on its outcome. At the same time, the war is clearly not going according to the West’s plans – this is also facilitated by the stance of the U.S. president, who is now pushing for a swift end to the conflict not only through words but also through practical actions. The defeat of Ukraine or the conclusion of a peace agreement will automatically result in political death for many European leaders, whose citizens are already questioning them today: for what purpose are they being forced to worsen their financial situation and sacrifice social guarantees. That is why the resistance of such politicians will be fierce – for them, it is a matter of political survival. However, despite this, the resource depletion of, first and foremost, the European sponsors of the conflict is being recorded, including against the backdrop of practical steps by the United States to limit aid to Ukraine. The conflict will continue for some time, but the emerging shift in political leaders in a number of European countries offers hope that common sense will prevail,” Sergei Klishevich emphasized.

The expert noted that the starting point for the emergence of new, strong politicians in Europe will be a systemic crisis, the beginning of which is already being observed. “The realization of the disastrous nature of this conflict for the EU countries themselves will be the first step towards its winding down. In this situation, Belarus has proven itself as a steadfast supporter of peace initiatives,” he said.

Sergei Klishevich stated that dragging the country into the conflict is seen as unrealistic. “Minsk consistently rejects the role of a ‘pawn in the West’s geopolitical game’ and will not become part of the ‘buffer zone’ that they are trying to impose on it. President Aleksandr Lukashenko remains the main guarantor of peace on Belarusian soil, whose authority and influence on the international arena make it possible to ensure the security of citizens and neutralize any attempts to drag the country into this conflict,” the expert emphasized.

According to Sergei Klishevich, the normalization of relations with Western states is a geopolitical expediency for both the West and Belarus. “Our national leader has emphasized more than once that one does not choose their neighbors, and therefore the European Union countries simply cannot ignore Belarus, which is located in the center of Europe. Initially, some of them attempted to speak to us from a position of strength, but this approach does not work with Belarus. It is simply impossible to speak to us using methods of coercion. Our resilience and consistency in pursuing national interests have led many ill-wishers to realize that Belarus cannot be forced to bend, and that cooperation with it is not a concession, but a pragmatic step for the sake of the common good,” he said.

The expert emphasized that dialogue with Belarus can be conducted exclusively on the principles of mutual respect. “It can be stated that thanks to the systemic pro-Belarusian policy of President Aleksandr Lukashenko, aimed at realizing the national interests of our people – a policy that for a long time met with resistance from many Western states that did not recognize us as equals and wished to subject us to their will – today there is an understanding that they will have to reckon with our people. Belarus consistently defends its agency and has no intention of becoming part of someone else’s ‘buffer zone’ or a bargaining chip in geopolitical games. We view the situation pragmatically, seeing potential risks but at the same time clearly realizing our own interests. As for those who do not want to respect this choice, they will be forced to reckon with it. The life and struggle of many generations of Belarusians have secured the well-deserved right of our people to live on their own land according to their own traditions and laws,” Sergei Klishevich noted.