Volha Kazulina to George Bush: “If European Union joined the tough position of the US, it would be good for our country” (Photo)

• 13.12.2008, 15:58

Belarusian bloggers, daughter of former political prisoner Volha Kazulina and journalist Alyaksandr Klaskouski, met with the US President.

During the meeting, Kazulina said joint sanctions of the US and the EU on Belarusian dictatorship were needed. “It is a position of my father,” she said.

Volha Kazulina and Alyaksandr Klaskouski gave an interview to Radio Svaboda’s journalist Yury Drakakhrust.

Kazulina: I liked this meeting, our two previous meetings were very short, where we just said a couple of words. This time, it was a round table, four bloggers from different countries as well as Alyaksandr and I took part in it, we were spoking for an hour. We discussed not only mass media, but also the US policy towards Belarus. I thanked Bush for his principal position towards Belarus, because only the US sanctions helped us to release political prisoners, including my father. I expressed a hope Barack Obama would be as principled towards Belarus as George Bush was.

Drakakhrust: Alyaksandr, what did you say, what did George Bush say?

Klaskouski: Formally, it looked like bloggers from problem regions raising human rights theme in spite of pressure. I listened to colleagues from Iran, China, Myanmar, and Belarus may seem a democratic paradise in comparison with them, because we have no severe variants. The conversation switched to policy, in particular, Mr Bush asked me if I believed the Belarusian regime could improve in some way. I answered there should be any illusions, there are two circumstances. The first one is Russia, the second one is the financial crisis. The authorities have to take certain steps, in particular, what concerns normalization of the relations with the West. We had a little discussion on sanctions, I said it was just a “prick” that only irritated them and didn’t give a desired effect. Mr Bush asked if all countries pressed. I told firstly, it was impossible, because Washington and Brussels didn’t have an agreed position. Secondly, there is a danger of pushing Belarus to Russia by these actions.

Drakakhrust: Volha, did you take part in the discussion on sanctions?

Kazulina: Of course, I did. I said I disagreed with Alyaksandr in this issue. Our position is economic sanctions, because Lukashenka didn’t understand in a different way.

Drakakhrust: A moment. You’ve said “our position”. “Our” is whose?

Kazulina: A position of my father and me. We see the result. Only sanctions make possible any changes in Belarus. We have no political prisoners at least. If, as Mr Bush said, the European Union joined this tough position, it would be good for our country.

Drakakhrust: As I understand, Mr Bush agreed with you, not with Alyaksandr?

Kazulina: Of course.

Klaskouski: You know, Mr Bush asked me if sanctions must be lifted, in my view. I said in joke I wasn’t a president of the United States. By the way, Mr Bush emphasised he was leaving his post soon. He listened to us, but he has no time to solve the Belarusian issue.

Drakakhrust: President Bush says he is going out, and leaves the White House forever on January 20. Your meeting was probably symbolic.

Kazulina: You know, one thing is performing one’s duties and conducting policy, another thing is feeling people and supporting them. In my view, Mr Bush and other officials who were working at this issue – Michel Kozak, David Kramer, they were solid for us and felt our mood. Unfortunately, they have to leave. I’ve already said I expressed a hope Barack Obama would continue the same policy and we would meet with him.

Drakakhrust: I remember that Anatol Lyabedzka once told about his meeting with Bush, where only Belarusians were invited to. As they came in, Mr Bush asked if they’d like whiskey. Did this meeting some human features?

Klaskouski: Mr Bush didn’t offer Whiskey to us, we didn’t offer our national drink, either, because American customs don’t allow to transport it. Seriously speaking, Mr Bush is a humane man, I joke that Lenin hosts people with complaints, and Mr Bush hosts bloggers. He has a desire to stress familiarity, his care, sincere concern about problems in the remote countries, probably exotic for the Americans, adherence to principles of struggle for democracy, for human rights in the world. You know, I involuntary compare that meeting with meeting between high ranking officials and journalists in our country. There were no tutorial manners, no rhetoric, no persuading we were “conducting right policy”. He put seven or eight questions to me, I began to tell about blogging and the situation with media in Belarus, he stopped me and began to ask questions. I felt knew necessary information. He knows the details of the situation in Belarus. He knows the details of journalism, too. He asked, Volha was running in the elections, and if I supported her as a journalist. I said I stand for ideals of democracy, it promotes the Belarusian opposition, but if I begin to serve for the opposition, whether it be the difference between me and official journalists. I ha an impressions we understood one another...

Kazulina: This man had a great sense of humour, he is very open-minded. When we were taking photo, he was smiling, was hugging everyone, he left a very good impression.

Photos from website of the US White House - www.whitehouse.gov