Norway’s policy towards Belarus

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre’s address to the Storting on 12 June 2007 in connection with the deliberations on Report No 27 (2006-2007) to the Storting on Norway’s participation in OSCE cooperation in 2006.

Translated from Norwegian.
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Mr President,

On 19 December 2006 the Storting adopted the Government’s proposal to increase the funds provided by Norway to the opposition and civil society in Belarus. It also requested that a broad strategy for democracy support aimed at civil society and the opposition in the country be developed, see Resolution No 316 (2006–2007). Here I would also like to refer to the recommendation of the Storting’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding the proposal submitted by Members of the Storting Solberg, Vallersnes and Lønning, i.e. Recommendation S No 44 (2006–2007) and Document No 8:104 (2005–2006).

It is, in my view, relevant to present the Government’s response to the Storting’s request today, in connection with the deliberations on the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs’ recommendations regarding the white papers on Norway’s efforts in the OSCE and participation in the Council of Europe in 2006, i.e. items Nos 3 and 4 announced by the President of the Storting and items Nos 7 and 8 on the agenda.
The Government shares the Storting’s concern about the development in Belarus. Here we are dealing with an authoritarian regime where democratic rights and basic human rights are systematically being set aside. This makes the country an anomaly in Europe, and we regret the current state of affairs.

Given the difficulties associated with providing support for democracy-building within the country, regional approaches, for example through the Council of Europe and the OSCE, are of great value. In these organisations, the other European countries stand united in exerting pressure on the regime. It is high time the people of Belarus got the same opportunities and rights that other Europeans enjoy.

The Government considers it important that Norway should take is share of responsibility in helping to achieve this. We wish to strengthen our contacts and cooperation with the democratic forces and currents we know to exist in Belarus.
As part of our efforts to systematise our engagement, we are now finalising a new comprehensive strategy specifying goals and measures. Based on my impressions of previous deliberations in this chamber, I am pleased to say that there seems to be broad parliamentary support for our approach.

Allow me to give a brief assessment of the situation in Belarus before I say more about the strategy. As regards the present regime, it is my assessment that President Lukashenka’s position is under heavy pressure. This is mainly due to the increases in customs duties and prices on energy that were introduced by Russia at the beginning of the year.

As a consequence, the revenues from the re-exportation of oil that are vital to Belarus have been slashed. Government revenues may be reduced by about 20%. This may result in a decline in living standards for a significant share of the population — and may lead to growing discontent.

However, it is highly probable that the authoritarian regime will continue — at least in the short run. The powers that be are not likely to set a course that might jeopardise there own position.

Despite the gloomy picture, I still believe that we have a window of for developing our contacts with Belarus’ civil society, public administration and business sector. Here we are speaking of taking small steps — yet these small steps can help to lay the foundation for strengthened democratic development down the road.

So what is my basis for saying this? Belarusian civil society has been strengthened in recent years due to more travel activity and an increasing number of contacts abroad.

We have also seen that small- and medium-sized enterprises in the country have consolidated their position in the face of difficult framework conditions. The same applies to parts of the public sector, where the authorities at different levels are showing increasing interest in developing contacts and cooperation with other European countries.

Furthermore, there are clear signs that the people want democratic and economic reform, and — following a long period of fragmentation — the democratic movement has now rallied in the United Democratic Forces — the UDF — which includes four of the most important political opposition parties.

Norway intends to support this development actively. The Government is therefore — as I have already mentioned — drawing up a strategy for our approach to Belarus. It will soon be finalised and made available on the Government’s website.

One concrete measure will be to invite the leaders of the UDF to Norway before the end of the year as a means of further developing our contacts with the democratic forces.

At the same time, we will maintain our criticism of the Belarusian authorities. Norway will continue to align itself with the EU and other countries in demanding that the internal development in Belarus be put on a positive course.

A normalisation of our relations with the country is contingent on a fundamental transition to democratic governance being made. Until that happens, we will maintain the current travel and visa restrictions and freezing of assets for a number of high-ranking Belarusian officials, in line with the measures imposed by the EU.

Moreover, we will continue to raise the unacceptable conditions in the country with Belarusian authorities in the UN and in regional organisations such as the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Nordic Council and NATO. The most recent example of this was the criticism of the lacking freedom of assembly in Belarus we expressed at ILO’s session in Geneva on 8 June this year.

In the strategy, the Government stresses the importance of strengthening cooperation with other countries to ensure a coordinated general approach to Belarus. In this connection, we will urge Russia to help to strengthen democratic development in Belarus.

I would like to draw particular attention to the fact that we are in the process of entering into closer cooperation with Sweden now that our neighbours are opening an embassy in Minsk. It is both rational and appropriate to strive for some kind of division of labour in such international matters, and it is clear to see that Sweden has taken a useful leading role among European countries as regards supporting democratic development in Belarus.

Furthermore, we will increase and systematise our support for projects that promote democracy and human rights in the country. It is essential that we support civil society.

Our support will channelled mainly through Norwegian and international NGOs, joint projects with other countries, the United Nations Development Programme — UNDP, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the Nordic Council of Ministers. People in Belarus need better access to independent information, and we must help to create independent forums. At the same time, we will continue to support human rights activists and protect victims of persecution.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is our most important cooperation partner as regards democracy-building measures in Belarus. The Committee has built up a broad network of contacts both in Minsk and in the regions. It cooperates with a wide range of NGOs and media and journalists’ organisations. The Committee also cooperates with Belarusian actors in offering legal and practical assistance and supports regional newspapers and alternative cultural programmes.

Norway is not the only country that is supporting civil society in Belarus, but the feedback we are getting seems to indicate that we are reaching more organisations at grass-roots level outside Minsk.

Due to the restrictions imposed by the Belarusian authorities on the opposition and NGOs in the country, it is also necessary to support Belarusians in exile in neighbouring countries, and here I believe in targeting young people. The Government intends to increase its support to the European Humanities University (EHU) in Vilnius, which offers programmes for Belarusian students in exile. This is a way of supporting Belarus’ leaders of tomorrow.

As part of the strategy, the Government will encourage institutions such as the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, to develop projects and contacts between research and educational institutions in Norway and Belarus — with a view also to building our own expertise on the country.
In addition to these measures, the Government believes it is important to strengthen our contact with the Belarusian authorities in the form of more regular contacts at senior official level. We will also consider inviting public officials at lower levels to participate in training programmes in Norway. We have had good experience with this type of cooperation in other connections. In my view, it is also worth considering business sector cooperation, for example in the fields of energy and the environment.

An intensification of our efforts targeted at Belarus must be accompanied by increased funding. I am satisfied with the boost from NOK 4 million last year to NOK 9 million this year, which is a vast improvement over the modest NOK 1 million allocated to this purpose in 2005. According to the Government’s plan, this allocation will be further increased next year.

In concluding, I would like to underline that the Government sees a clear added value in Norwegian parties’ and parliamentarians’ contacts with Belarusian politicians at various levels. These contacts are helping to nurture a positive development in Belarus.

Read the Strategy here.