European politicians are demonstrating a more rational approach to Belarus than before, Pavel Yakubovich, Editor-in-Chief of the SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper, said in the Editors' Club program broadcast by the Belarus 1 TV channel on 3 December.
“What the European Union fears most today is having a common border with Russia. The recent geopolitical developments prompt the European establishment to develop contacts with the Belarusian authorities realizing the important role of Belarus. In terms of politics, they still hold a cautious attitude towards Minsk but have to take our position into account. Now they demonstrate a more rational approach,” Pavel Yakubovich said.
He believes that with all the changes in the European Union and its Eastern European policy, including the Warsaw-Minsk relations, it gets clear that the information relics of the Cold War (Poland-sponsored TV channels, radio stations and newspapers targeting the Belarusian audiences) have already become irrelevant and useless.
“Their official position is as follows: it is necessary to change the policy, develop closer ties and search for common ground. The visits of politicians attest to this. It is evident that ‘war brochures' are already an outdated practice,” Pavel Yakubovich said.
Chairman of the National State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Belteleradiocompany Gennady Davydko pointed out that radicalism as such is now seen as unacceptable. “If there are no constructive points, there is no discussion at all,” he said.
Igor Sokolov, Editor-in-Chief of the Belarusian edition of the Argumenty I Fakty newspaper, noted: “If we take a broader look at the activities of the news channels of the East and the West that broadcast to Belarus, we can say that there is a struggle for influence on our country. Belarus is walking its own way, and quite confidently I should say.”