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13 September 2021, 16:24

Opinion: Sanctions can be countered together via cooperation and market diversification

MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) – Unity and mutual cooperation of the countries, which are affected by sanctions or oppose such influence methods, represent a genuine tool for counteracting those, who resort to such non-legal measures. Aleksei Gromyko, a Russian historian and political analyst, Doctor of Political Science, Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, made the relevant statement at the international conference “Impact of global economic challenges on social and labor rights”, which is taking place in Minsk on 13-14 September, BelTA has learned.

Aleksei Gromyko said: “We have to find and increase support for those, who agree that unilateral sanctions are not legal. Sanctions, which are truly meant to change the domestic system of a country, force the country or the nation to behave differently not only in politics and economy but with regard to their values, too. A large part of the world is against such an approach. Such measures increasingly demonstrate their inadequacy. It is clear that sanctions represent a burden, some difficulties that one has to overcome. Tighter cooperation, more unity among the affected countries is one of the ways out. In addition to overcoming the difficulties together they should find new opportunities for their development, for diversifying their foreign policy and trade.”

The last year demonstrated how in practice countries can cooperate in order to minimize consequences of various sanctions. As an example Aleksei Gromyko referred to the prompt rerouting of the export of Belarusian oil products via Russian ports. “Work is now in progress on potash fertilizers, the use of the Northern Sea Route. We are looking for new real ways to ship cargoes. It is one of the examples. I think the development of the domestic market in Russia and Belarus is another way. Our country was swamped with imported agricultural products 20 years ago. The situation is different now because the domestic output has been rising for several years. Import substitution cannot be viewed only as reliance on only domestic resources. It should be considered from the point of view of diversification, lesser dependence on external factors for the sake of increasing stability, for the sake of increasing what is described as the stress resistance of a national economy, which means people's welfare. Everyone does it: Belarus, Russia, the European Union, China, the USA. It is one of the key trends in the world,” the analyst stressed.

Aleksei Gromyko added that thanks to the Union State Belarus and Russia came close to establishing a common market, which will be further developed in the next few years. But the level of integration is already higher than that in the Eurasian Economic Union.

The international conference “Impact of global economic challenges on social and labor rights” was initiated by the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB). Taking part in the conference are leading experts in the area of international law, representatives of the government, the court system, scientific circles, political analysts, foreign ambassadors, heads of international trade union associations and representatives of the enterprises that have been affected by sanctions. Over the course of two days they are expected to discuss initiatives for preserving stability in the world and fundamental rights of the people. The conference is expected to produce a resolution, which will be sent to the European Union, the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the United Nations Organization.

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