Opinions & Interviews

Belarusian deputy foreign minister slams Western political elites for short-sighted thinking

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MINSK, 18 August (BelTA) – Political elites in the West think in a very short-term manner. They are no longer interested in a perspective that spans decades. Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sekreta made the statement in an interview with the German publication NachDenkSeiten, BelTA has learned.

“In my opinion, the problem with today’s political elites in the West is that they think in the very short term. They are no longer interested in the long-term outlook that spans decades. They are often too weak and indecisive to make bold decisions,” Igor Sekreta stressed.

The deputy minister of foreign affairs explained that a bold decision for a politician is one that could cost them their career but that will ensure the peaceful development of their country in the long run.

“If we look at the history of postwar Germany, there were many leaders like that. They were harshly criticized, but they deliberately sought closer ties with the Soviet Union and France. They were driven by the understanding that this was a process that would bring German citizens more than eternal enmity,” the diplomat noted.

He believes that most of today’s European elites are too weak. They are unable to make a bold deed and say “No, things cannot go on like this. We must sit down at the table and restore relations with Russia and Belarus.”

“If that courage were present, then the conflict in Ukraine could have been ended much more quickly. For example, consider Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Not long ago he stated that it would be necessary to sit down at the negotiating table with Russia. Although prior to that, he had called for supplying weapons and fighting to the bitter end. Historical arguments were utilized. But before that, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Accords, he said something completely different. Why was it necessary to waste an entire year? If he had sent a strong signal back then, we could already be sitting at the negotiating table and the war would be over,” the deputy minister of foreign affairs speculated.

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