At the Eastern Partnership summit they “forgot” about Russia, but quarreled over Belarus
The member countries of the so-called “Eastern Partnership” - an anti-Russian and pro-American association of limitrophes - at their next summit held in Brussels, decided not to aggravate relations with their eternal antipode.
The 24-page final statement, signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, makes no mention of sanctions against the Russian Federation or any “Russian aggression.” They only mentioned support for “territorial integrity.” There is no mention in the document of the possibility of member countries joining the European Union.
The information that neither sanctions against Russia nor the situation around Nord Stream 2 was touched upon at the summit was confirmed after the meeting by Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin.
At the same time, at the final press conference of the summit, most of the questions concerned Russia. The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, assured journalists that the European Union had prepared “a firm and united position towards Russia in the event of aggression against Ukraine.”
But the issue of Belarus, which suspended its membership in the association as a sign of protest, has quarreled the participating countries of the Eastern Partnership. Azerbaijan did not support this project, which concerned the “transition of Belarus to democracy.”
Baku noted that for him, respect for the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in their internal affairs is a red line. Azerbaijan does not accept a politicized approach to human rights, humanitarian issues and double standards.
“Belarus was given an empty chair at the summit. This was done with a statement that the European community expresses the hope that a “legitimate democratically elected Belarusian leader” will soon sit in this chair. However, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was not invited to the central event of the summit - the meeting of heads of state - and was not seated in an empty chair. From which it logically follows that she is not a legitimate democratically elected Belarusian leader,” writes RuBaltic.Ru editor-in-chief Alexander Nosovich in his Telegram channel
He also draws attention to the fact that it was Azerbaijan, and not Armenia, which together with Belarus is part of the CSTO and the EAEU, that was supported by official Minsk.
“Am I the only one who has a presentiment that soon relations within the EAEU and the CSTO will cease to be languid?” asks Nosovich.
The Eastern Partnership summit "forgot" about Russia, but quarreled over Belarus.