Original article: delo.si
The UN Security Council elections are very important for the Belarusian regime of president Alexander Lukashenko in the context of Belarus' geopolitical isolation. Lukashenko needs a voice in the multilateral arena to promote his hypocritical pro-Russian political agenda, one of the Belarusian opposition leaders, Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian diplomat and Minister of Culture who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in absentia, told Delo.
In Slovenia, we have very little information on how Belarus campaigned for election to the UN Security Council. Slovenian diplomats and the top brass of the Foreign Ministry have made it clear that they do not perceive a Belarusian campaign on the ground, except in recent weeks, when Belarus has activated a campaign to smear Slovenia's candidacy.
Pavel Latushka says that he has "absolutely never" heard [president] Lukashenko talk about Belarus' candidacy for the Security Council in the last year. "I know Foreign Minister Sergei Aleyinik well. He is not active, he has no influence in Lukashenko's structures. Therefore, the candidacy is not a priority on either the Belarusian domestic or foreign policy agenda. Moreover, we need to understand that the biggest concern of the Lukashenko regime is its own survival. They are mainly concerned with the question of how the regime will survive if Ukraine wins the war", explains the importance of the candidacy for the Belarusian regime.
Who is behind the political agenda of the Belarusian dictator is clear: "Today, Lukashenko is completely dependent on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has lost its independence and sovereignty, which exists only nominally'.
Belarus announced its candidacy as far back as 2007, and was the only candidate for the next 15 years after that. "Election to a non-permanent seat was seen in Belarus as a settled issue. But at the end of 2021, Slovenia decided to file a candidacy against Belarus. I strongly support Slovenia's candidacy", says the Belarusian dissident. Belarus is a bloody regime, according to him, represented by the dictator and long-time president of the country, Alexander Lukashenko. He has not been recognised as president of the country by the US, the EU and some other democratic countries because of fraudulent elections.
The world understands what the Lukashenko regime is like.
Who is behind the political agenda of the Belarusian dictator is clear: "Today, Lukashenko is totally dependent on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has lost its independence and sovereignty, which exists only nominally". Moreover, Alexander Lukashenko is an absolute ally of the Putin regime in the war against Ukraine.
It is Putin, not Lukashenko, who has the most to gain from Belarus' candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, Latushkf believes. Belarus' candidacy is also in China's interest. "Certainly Russia and China want Belarus on the Security Council, because it is a very loyal candidate for them." Latuško does not want to predict what the chances are that Russia and China, with their influence in the third world, will prevent Slovenia from being elected. In his opinion, a lot will depend on the international community if it allows another "terrorist and aggressor state that abuses international law" to join the Security Council.
Belarus received only 56 votes when it stood for the Security Council in 2001.
Unlike Slovenia, candidacy is not on the political agenda in Belarus.
The Belarusian candidacy is most beneficial for Russia.
Belarus wants to promote dialogue and transparency in the Security Council, and to pay attention to climate change and the fight against terrorism. "But really? A very interesting strategy for a dictatorial regime. Today, Lukashenko is promoting war. A week ago, he said that he regretted not occupying Ukraine in 2014, when the opportunity was there.
The Lukashenko regime is allowing Russia to launch aggressive attacks on Ukraine from Belarus, to supply arms to Russia and to train Russian soldiers," Pavel Latushka criticises.
In a joke alluding to Belarus' stolen elections, Latushka says that it is good for Slovenia that the Security Council elections will not be held in Belarus. He recalls that the last Belarusian candidacy in 2001 was not successful. Unlike this time, the previous campaign was extensive and intense, and Belarus ended up with 56 votes of support. "In 2023, the world understands that the Lukashenko regime is bloody and systematically violates human rights. Belarus ranks first in the number of political prisoners. We have 345 political prisoners per 100 000 inhabitants. We have the worst media freedom in Europe," concludes Latushka, who, as a former diplomat, supports Slovenia in its fight against Belarus.
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