Vladimir Ruml: I can assure you that I will not forget about Belarus

Vladimir Ruml, Charge d’Affaires of the Czech Republic in Belarus, is ending his term this week. With just a couple of days remaining before his departure, Mr. Ruml shares his impressions and experience in Belarus in an exclusive interview with the European Radio for Belarus.

ERB: Over the past four years that you worked in Belarus, a lot of changes in the economic and political life here have taken place. Do you see any positive dynamics in these changes?

Both the negative and positive changes have taken place in Belarus over this period of time. The most negative changes in the political life are: the 2004 referendum which removed limits for the presidential term and the results of the so called presidential elections in 2006. The growth of prices for the Russian gas in 2007 was the most negative event economically. It was a hard trial of the Belarusian authorities, although Russia gave Belarus a stabilization loan in late 2007. In my view, this shows that Russia has no political motivation to put pressure on the Belarusian regime.

The abolition of the “golden share” can also be regarded as a positive change. I think that the Belarusian economic model should get adapted to the Russian model in the future. It would also be a rather positive factor.

ERB: The Czech Republic is ranked among the top ten most popular tourist destinations in the world. Did you find any places in Belarus which you enjoyed and where you would like to come back?

Yes. I have spotted several nice places. Everyone who lives abroad has such locations… In the future, I would like to return to Minsk Sea and revisit the Mir Castle and drop by the Czech Embassy again. Of course, I will never forget the victims of the Soviet rule in Kurapaty near Minsk.

ERB: How could you evaluate the results of your work in Belarus?

I think that the embassy has coped with its duties and tasks. I had very good friendly contacts with my colleagues from diplomatic missions of the EU member states and the United States. I also had very god contacts with ambassadors of Ukraine, Israel, India and several Belarusian opposition leaders like Lyabedzka, Vyachorka and Milinkevich.

ERB: Which events do you remember the most?

It is hard to say. But as for social events, I will never forget some demonstrations on the streets of Minsk, especially the protest of young people on October Square in March 2006.

ERB: Basing on your experience in Brussels and Minsk, what could you advise to your successor?

I would like to wish him to be braver but careful at the same time; to take care of civic freedoms and democracy. I could advise him to treat everyone in a friendly way but to defend justice in the first place. Finally, I would wish him to be strong.

ERB: What are your personal plans in the future? What are you going to do? Will you use your experience from Belarus in your life?

My work in Belarus was a wonderful experience. It gave me an opportunity to see the work of Western diplomats from democratic countries in an “Eastern” country and to take part in this work. This experience will be helpful in the future. I am coming back to Prague where I will serve as a special envoy for the Czech foreign ministry. I can assure you that I will always keep Belarus in sight and will never forget about your country.

ERB: What do you think the Belarusian government should do in order to raise the level of representation of the Czech Republic in Belarus? Your mission is now headed the Charge d’Affaires, not the Ambassador…

We will continue to maintain the status of our mission at the level of the charge d’affaires. I don’t think that we are going to have our ambassador in Belarus in the nearest perspective. This is associated with the state of our bilateral relations and the political situation in Belarus.

On the other hand, I think that this level of representation is sufficient to maintain a good level of contacts. In 2009, the Czech Republic will hold the EU chairmanship. I am confident that there are no hurdles at the diplomatic level for us to represent the interests of all EU countries in Belarus.

Photo: BelGazeta