Thanks to the publication of U.S. diplomatic correspondence on Wikileaks, it's been revealed that the Polish authorities consider the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as the lesser evil compared with Russia. "Tusk (Prime Minister Donald Tusk — Telegraf) and Sikorski (Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski) look upon cooperation with the authoritarian regime in Belarus as the lesser evil," U.S. diplomats said.
«In the opinion of Poles, isolated Belarus may be completely annexed by Russia, with or without Lukashenko in power. Russian domination would threaten the democratization in Belarus and, what is more important for Warsaw, to dispel the hope for Belarus to become a buffer state between Poland and Russia,» the site informs.
Also, it is said, that the U.S. were surprised by the fact that Poland had made the EU simplify visa procedures for officials from the administration of Alexander Lukashenko. According to the Polish leadership, Minsk was hinting Brussels about its readiness to lift some restrictions on the media in response to the review of the visa sanctions’ abolition.
Radoslaw Sikorski accused the U.S. of double standards because of their close ties with the «dictatorship in Saudi Arabia, but not in Belarus.» Polish authorities acknowledge that they may be accused of flirting with the dictator. However, in their view, it’s particularly important to make Belarus an ally after the Russian invasion of Georgia.
«Eastern Partnership» is to Reduce Russia’s Influence, Wikileaks
The correspondence disclosed Poland treating the «Eastern Partnership» as a means to resist the strengthening of Russia. Radoslaw Sikorski told the U.S. representatives that Poland used to believe Russia to become dangerous in 10-15 years, but after the crisis in Georgia, it became clear that only 10-15 months would be necessary. In this regard, Warsaw is striving to create a buffer between Russia and itself.
«By offering prospect of free trade and visa-free regime with the EU to the former Soviet republics, «Eastern Partnership» can initiate the necessary reforms for these countries’ access in the EU, thus blocking the Russian influence,» it’s mentioned in the correspondence.
According to the Poles, greater involvement of the West in Belarus and Ukraine’s business can provide an alternative to the Russian state-controlled entities, while the EU programs of good governance will help to combat corruption, thus weakening Russia’s political and economic influence as well.
