So far Sidorski’s meetings does not correspond to prime minister’s level
- 19.11.2008, 14:31
A political analyst Ihar Lyalkou believes that hopes of the official Minsk for a breakthrough in relations with the European Union is not grounded, and the Great Britain discusses approaches to the Belarusian business and investment only at the suggestion of Lord Bell.
The political analyst told in an interview to Radio Svaboda that the Belarusian authorities are greatly interested in investments right now, but the investment background of Belarus is very unattractive.
“As for the modern situation. Belarus needs investment right now certainly. The state of the economy for today is so bad that Belarusian economy cannot develop any more without large-scale foreign investments. So it is obvious that these hopes are timely.
Are these intentions well-grounded? Minsk has made several moves over the recent moths to make Belarus more attractive for foreign investors. Besides, certain state guarantees for foreign business in Belarus are declared.
But it is like a credit history in a bank. It is created not in a few months, but over many years. And investment background of Belarus is very unattractive so far. It is enough to recall attempts of large-scale investments by Ford, Baltika and others, and that they ended in a failure.
That is why I think that for a serious Western business Belarus is a territory which they would try to keep away from. It is not excluded however that risky businessmen could come here. There are enough of them in the West,” Ihar Lyalkou said.
To his mind, there is no wonder that the Great Britain is the first to become open for Belarusian business and investments, as the creator of the Belarusian government’s image Lord Bell works there.
“It is not surprising as the paid agent of the Belarusian regime Lord Timothy bell works in Britain. He has rather good contacts among British MPs, in the elite in general. That is why the man who is working off his money should in some way acquaint the Belarusian leadership with British establishment, and he is trying to do so.
However, I would like to note that so far meetings of Sidorski in London do not match his level of Prime Minister. A business lunch in the editorial office of a newspaper, a meeting with Lord Mayor of the City of London – it is not the level of the government’s head,” the political analyst said.
The expert specified that Lord Mayor of the City of London is a position like a head of a district administration in Minsk.
“Yes, it is equivalent to the head of a district administration in Minsk. That is the level Lord Bell is able to offer to his clients, and so he does,” Ihar Lyalkou said.
As we have informed, the Belarusian investment forum has started its work in London today. Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski takes part in its work. He arrived to the Great Britain in a three day working visit.