Mark Episkopos
MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) - Belarus and the USA need to build relations without ultimatums and civilizational choices, Mark Episkopos, a research fellow in the Quincy Institute’s Eurasia Program, said in an interview to the STV TV channel, BelTA has learned.
Mark Episkopos suggests a pragmatic approach, including the restoration of communication channels and maintaining Belarus as a sovereign actor. According to him, there are many who share his views. “I call myself a realist. I am someone who looks at the last 10-20 years of U.S. grand policy,” the expert said, adding that what the USA has undertaken regarding Belarus is not working. “There is a better approach, which highlights Belarus’ multi-vector policy and its consistent desire for good relations with both West and East. Building relations without the ultimatums and civilizational choices that we have imposed not only on Belarus but also on other post-Soviet countries is key to success. The White House administration is proceeding from a similar approach.”
Mark Episkopos cited U.S. pragmatism as one reason for the progress made over the past six months. “It is very good that Belarus has positive relations with other great powers. In the summer, we heard that Belarus used its channels with Moscow to support the settlement process with Ukraine. This was very positive for the White House,” he said.
Such connections provide another platform for sending signals and exchanging thoughts. “Belarus is a sovereign country that represents its own interests. These interests imply positive relations with Russia, China, but beyond that, they imply constructive interaction with the West - the EU, the USA,” Mark Episkopos added.
He believes that the lifting of sanctions is only the beginning for restoring economic relations. “There are windows for investment for U.S. companies,” Mark Episkopos said. “I think we can look not only at lifting specific restrictions but at building economic interaction in terms of trade, commercial projects.”
Follow us on:
