Makouskaya: You have to recognize compatriots before expecting investments
The Belarusian government is going to approve the law “On compatriots” or “a Belarusian’s card” in July hoping to get investments. At the same time, average Belarusians who cannot provide any investments are not promised any support, benefits and preferences. As ERB has found out, “a Belarusian’s card” will not help reduce the distance between Belarusians living abroad and the current government. The deputy commissioner on religious and national matters Uladzimir Lameka informed ERB that the authors of the new law had not decided who to consider a compatriot.
Uladzіmіr Lameka: “There are Belarusians originating from Smolensk and Vilnya Regions. How are they going to present themselves? What if a Belarusian was born in Belostok District? They will probably go to Poland because it is their ethnical motherland and their ancestors lived there. But what should be done about Poles, Jews and Tatars who have been living here for 600 years? Letts, Lithuanians… They originate from here, so should we send them to Lithuania? They want to visit their historical motherland and they think that it is situated here. We have invented the term “compatriots” – it embraces those who associate this country with their historical motherland. There are a lot of nuances about the ultimate notion of compatriots. Probably it should concern the current geographical borders of Belarus”.
According to him, Belarusian officials hope to receive good investments in the Belarusian economy in the first place. They think that the law will help them receive money from the Belarusian diaspora.
Uladzіmіr Lameka: Compatriots should not only wish to come back to their historical motherland, we are hoping to receive investments, we are counting on their economic ties and their ability to create a good image of Belarus abroad. It is also very important”.
Unfortunately, U.Lameka says that the law is associated with moneyed assistance from the ethnical motherland in the first place.
Uladzіmіr Lameka: “We have understood what they want in the first place: liquidation or simplification of the visa regime, accommodation and education benefits, etc. It is wrong, and we will create equal terms for everyone. We are not that rich to undermine our economy. Quite the opposite. However, there will be some benefits because the card would make no sense otherwise”.
As it will not be “A Belarusian’s card” but the law “On compatriots”, people will not have to present an official confirmation of their origin and will not need to have a good command of Belarusian. However, fact of previous convictions will be checked.
According to ERB, about 3.5 million Belarusians live abroad. About one million Belarusians live in Canada and the USA, 870 thousands – in Russia, 300 thousands – in Ukraine and 130 thousands - in Israel. According to the head of the Council of a civil association “Association of Belarusians of the World “Motherland”” Alena Makouskaya, there are a lot of rich people among them. However, she said that getting investments should not be the top priority of the law “On compatriots”.
Alena Makouskaya: “Speaking about the investments the law is meant to attract, we have to understand that it is the field of the Ministry of Economy! It should be discussed as part of the Belarusian investment climate. There has to be a normal climate in order to create normal conditions for investments. However, it contradicts the state ideology because it allows the existence of independent private business in Belarus. There are rich Belarusians keeping their distance from the country all over the world. I think they could work in Belarus if there were favourable conditions for it. However, they do not seem to be those who need “the card” in the first place”.
She also explained what had to be included in such a law.
Alena Makouskaya: “In order to ask compatriots for something, we have to show that we are ready to do something for them. We have to recognize their status officially. We have to show that we are ready to help them reach their civil and cultural goals. We have to encourage them to cooperate with Belarus so that they would create the country’s outward image in the world”.
Moreover, according to the head of “Motherland”, rumors about such a law being elaborated in Belarus appeared seven years ago. They promise to approve it every year. She says that the same thing may happen this time.
Uladzіmіr Lameka: “There are Belarusians originating from Smolensk and Vilnya Regions. How are they going to present themselves? What if a Belarusian was born in Belostok District? They will probably go to Poland because it is their ethnical motherland and their ancestors lived there. But what should be done about Poles, Jews and Tatars who have been living here for 600 years? Letts, Lithuanians… They originate from here, so should we send them to Lithuania? They want to visit their historical motherland and they think that it is situated here. We have invented the term “compatriots” – it embraces those who associate this country with their historical motherland. There are a lot of nuances about the ultimate notion of compatriots. Probably it should concern the current geographical borders of Belarus”.
According to him, Belarusian officials hope to receive good investments in the Belarusian economy in the first place. They think that the law will help them receive money from the Belarusian diaspora.
Uladzіmіr Lameka: Compatriots should not only wish to come back to their historical motherland, we are hoping to receive investments, we are counting on their economic ties and their ability to create a good image of Belarus abroad. It is also very important”.
Unfortunately, U.Lameka says that the law is associated with moneyed assistance from the ethnical motherland in the first place.
Uladzіmіr Lameka: “We have understood what they want in the first place: liquidation or simplification of the visa regime, accommodation and education benefits, etc. It is wrong, and we will create equal terms for everyone. We are not that rich to undermine our economy. Quite the opposite. However, there will be some benefits because the card would make no sense otherwise”.
As it will not be “A Belarusian’s card” but the law “On compatriots”, people will not have to present an official confirmation of their origin and will not need to have a good command of Belarusian. However, fact of previous convictions will be checked.
According to ERB, about 3.5 million Belarusians live abroad. About one million Belarusians live in Canada and the USA, 870 thousands – in Russia, 300 thousands – in Ukraine and 130 thousands - in Israel. According to the head of the Council of a civil association “Association of Belarusians of the World “Motherland”” Alena Makouskaya, there are a lot of rich people among them. However, she said that getting investments should not be the top priority of the law “On compatriots”.
Alena Makouskaya: “Speaking about the investments the law is meant to attract, we have to understand that it is the field of the Ministry of Economy! It should be discussed as part of the Belarusian investment climate. There has to be a normal climate in order to create normal conditions for investments. However, it contradicts the state ideology because it allows the existence of independent private business in Belarus. There are rich Belarusians keeping their distance from the country all over the world. I think they could work in Belarus if there were favourable conditions for it. However, they do not seem to be those who need “the card” in the first place”.
She also explained what had to be included in such a law.
Alena Makouskaya: “In order to ask compatriots for something, we have to show that we are ready to do something for them. We have to recognize their status officially. We have to show that we are ready to help them reach their civil and cultural goals. We have to encourage them to cooperate with Belarus so that they would create the country’s outward image in the world”.
Moreover, according to the head of “Motherland”, rumors about such a law being elaborated in Belarus appeared seven years ago. They promise to approve it every year. She says that the same thing may happen this time.
