Real diplomacy is quiet

Real diplomacy is quiet. We talked about important aspects with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Belarusian diplomats are like warriors of an invisible, but very important line of the modern front. The expulsion of representatives of our diplomatic missions, attacks on them in Western countries, the distortion of facts about the events in Belarus, the information and economic blockade — this is the reality in which representatives of our foreign ministry have to work abroad today. Keeping in mind the goal: do not let the dialogue stop, do not let anyone bring the big guns out. “That is the essence of our work. Not public, but very quiet, real diplomacy,” explained Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Ambrazevich. It is with him that we will talk about important aspects.

On multivectorness and sovereignty

— The Belarusians clearly and long ago made it clear who we are, for what and with whom we are. Why is it that a number of experts cannot calm down in any way regarding the topic of multivectorness?
— Almost 30 years ago, the Belarusian people made a choice in favour of a strategic partnership with Russia. Over the years, the level and depth of interaction has firmly cemented our choice. The rupture of these ties, I am sure, again, will turn into a social catastrophe for Belarus, as it was in 1991. And for many years of residence of the Belarusian and Russian peoples in one state, the mentalities of people have become very close, the number of blood ties is countless. Moreover, there is no sensible explanation why it’s all to break or destroy.

Another extremely important point. Russia has accepted and is accepting Belarus, its political system as they are. Moscow does not seek to remake us. They continue to develop a relationship with us. At the same time, any co-operation has been constantly subject to conditions from the western side since 2000. They wanted and still want to rebuild us all the time, reshape us to their standards exclusively in their own interests.

Indeed, our position between Russia and the West is certainly important and significant in the context of their almost unceasing rivalry, but at the same time it cannot be called enviable and profitable. However, we have established ourselves as a sovereign country with a decent standard of living by world standards and a huge potential for further development over the years of independence. This result was achieved largely due to the fact that in matters of the multivector nature of its foreign policy, Belarus clearly and timely set priorities and determined the different saturation of its vectors, realising that the laws of algebra also apply in geopolitics.
Based on objective reality, we are counting on ourselves, on our choice of a strategic partnership with Russia and China, as well as with a number of Eurasian and pan-Asian integration structures. We are open to active interaction with everyone who is ready to work with us on the principles of mutual respect, equality and non-interference in internal affairs. Our trade with 180 countries and Belarusian exports to 155 states are proof of that.

If there are no peace and security — there is also no sustainable development of countries

— In your speeches, you have repeatedly cited this simple formula. Does diplomacy still have mechanisms in this matter?
— This formula still works. Let me give you an example that everyone hears about, but it vividly demonstrates the connection of real life problems with issues of peace and security. The UN Secretary General said that there is actually famine in a number of the least developed countries, people are dying. Our President addressed his next letter to the Head of the UN Secretariat, where he very clearly identified the main factor that is causing the world to talk about global hunger. It all started long before the special military operation in Ukraine, when sanctions and restrictions were imposed on Belarus and Russia as serious suppliers to the international markets of fertilisers and grain. Which led to an increase in their cost. The consequences of these actions resulted directly in the global problems of international food security. Nonetheless, they can be solved by returning our products to international markets.
Diplomacy exists to resolve such conflicts. And that is why Belarus has been promoting the proposal of the President to hold a global dialogue on security for more than five years. Which, in our opinion, should, in the spirit of San Francisco (as the UN was once created), dot the I’s in the new international order, where there is no single pole, but a multipolar system is being formed. When all countries could exist without wars, and the rules of conduct would make it possible to predict all possible collisions and crises.
— The expulsion of our and Russian diplomats, attacks on our institutions and state symbols abroad... I don’t recall such an attack on our diplomatic services. Is it so that it is not possible to negotiate in order to immediately put the guns into action?
— In the past year and a half, there have been a sufficient number of cases of vandalism against the premises of Belarusian foreign missions, transport, as well as attacks and hooligan actions against our diplomats. Unfortunately, this is happening with the clear connivance of the authorities of the host states. Virtually none of these actions against our colleagues, foreign agencies have been investigated to the end. And, frankly speaking, we do not hope for the results of these proceedings.
I believe that all these are links in a chain of that political pressure and that destructive political position that the leaders of Western countries have taken in relation to Belarus and our people as a whole.

Concerning the strange ‘diplomacy’ of the EU allies

— Today there are quite strange diplomacy of those who represent Western countries, the European Union in Belarus. One gets the impression that these are not diplomats, but hired animators. Their visits to courts to Belarusian criminals, terrorists, attempts to arrange ‘political performances’ in places of mourning, support and propaganda of Nazi, Bandera, extremist ideologies, financing of protest activity... What does all this have to do with the professional activities of representatives of diplomatic departments and for what purpose are they in our country?
— You know, for Western diplomats Belarus is such a vivid case, on the example of which one can demonstrate one’s political preferences, support for one or another force. Speaking of Belarus, we are talking about destructive opposition to the current government.

The European diplomacy has a long-known situation in accordance to the Belarusian case: it is very easy to make a career in Belarus, where there are sanctions, there is the opportunity to hype. Now this element is taking place in the work of Western diplomats here in Minsk.

However, any diplomat who works in an official capacity in the country performs the task of his government, his ministry of foreign affairs. Therefore, all those steps that you have described are links in the political position of their governments, a demonstration of support for specific political forces.
In Belarus, the actions of these diplomats really balance on the verge of interference in internal affairs. Let me remind you that the main task of diplomats is to promote friendly relations, political, economic, development of co-operation in the sphere of economy, culture, science and education. And they should do this, including collecting the information they need, without violating either domestic regulations or international law.

There is an old saying: when diplomats end, guns start talking. Preserving communication channels through which we could understand each other and provide the opportunity to call, pick up the phone at the right time — that is the essence of our work. Not public, but very quiet, real diplomacy.

Concerning Western media

— What chances do Western people actually have to understand the situation in Belarus, if they read and watch only Western media? They have only hope for your efforts, representatives of the country abroad and people’s diplomacy?
— Indeed, both in the current circumstances are probably the most effective means of spreading the truth about life in Belarus. The entire broadcast in the West is filled with exclusively one-sided propaganda accusations about political repressions, reports on negative economic development and social problems... Air time is given to those who work to undermine our model of socio-economic development. Therefore, yes, when you watch CNN, BBC or some French-language channels, you see that the Western man in the street has no chance to understand how things really are in our country at all. 
The main work, it seems to me, should now be focused on ensuring that ordinary people have access to our country. In this sense, we are also considering the initiative on visa-free entry for our neighbours. So, information flows from Belarus still seep into the global market despite the pressure of the general political context on the content of journalistic materials. Well, Western journalists, unfortunately, became the true hostages of the situation. Now the demonisation of Belarus and our political leadership is the main vector of their work. I’m not talking about objectivity and so on.
— Of course, you are talking about the need to sit down at the negotiating table, we must not lose this thread... However, we have weapons at our western borders. Until recently, I would have ended our conversation with a question: is the West capable of hearing words? Now it is different: is the West waging a war of weakening, disunity and, as a result, total destruction?
— I do not want to believe in destruction. I don’t think that’s their goal. The build-up of the military presence is now taking place with a specific task — to ensure maximum political and economic pressure. That is, there is a so-called hybrid effect.
However, they main aim is to support the radicals, who do not consider the modern state an achievement, and tend to see only negative things in our country, our way of life. They count on the split of society. There is an understanding of all these threats, therefore, appropriate work is being carried out both within the country and with the main strategic military ally, Russia. There is the CSTO bloc — a structure that has already shown its effectiveness in Kazakhstan. Therefore, we feel confident in terms of military security, we feel the support of our allies, like-minded people in the world on the issue of national security. I am sure that at this stage we have all the necessary resources to repel real aggression and counteraction in the information sphere.

By Lyudmila Gladkaya