German Ambassador Wolfram Maas: Belarus Is European Country, European Standards Applied

BelaPAN: The EU launched the European Dialogue on Modernization with Belarus program to bring together experts to discuss political and economic reform for Belarus. How could Germany participate in it?

Wolfram Maas: The EU has established a forum to discuss Belarus’ prospects. People who will determine the country’s future have been given an opportunity to take part in it. The program provides for meetings with experts from Germany and other EU countries to share experience on solutions to problems. It deals with a wide range of issues. For instance, in Germany people think of holding a seminar or a round-table discussion on social issues, namely how to address pension system issues to make it stable for decades ahead.

We are ready to share our experience with Belarus outside the dialogue on modernization. Groups of experts have already come up with conclusions on various economic issues… Any decision should be in line with Belarusian interests. It should not be a brilliant plan devised abroad and imposed on Belarus.

BelaPAN: But the Belarusian authorities see it this way. How can they be persuaded of the opposite?

WM: Life consists of a chain of misunderstandings. Our task is to overcome one misunderstanding after another.

BelaPAN: The EU and Germany have frozen political contacts with Belarus for well-known reasons. How has cooperation been developing in other areas such as culture, science, education and the economy?

WM: I think… we have potential for increased cooperation in all areas. If one looks at details, we have a lot of elements of cooperation.

Take science and education, for instance… In the framework of academic cooperation we issue 100 scholarships to Belarusians. My associates told me that Belarusian higher education establishments have been cooperating fruitfully with German universities…

We have had vigorous cultural exchanges. It was not for the first time that the German Culture Week was held earlier this month… This year saw two major events such as a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s string quintet… and an exhibition of Francishak Skaryna’s Bible held in Minsk and Niasvizh, emphasizing shared cultural roots.

Economic cooperation has been developing positively and intensively, propelled by private initiative. Both exports and imports have been rising in the last few years… Germany accounts for about five percent of Belarus` overall international trade. Of course, the proportion can be considered impressive.

The volume of German investment in Belarus has been modest so far. Nevertheless, it has already created thousands of jobs in Belarus. This is important, international activity should benefit people by creating well-paid and reliable jobs.

BelaPAN: If a German businessman planning to start up a business in Belarus comes to the German embassy, how would the embassy describe the country, what recommendations or warnings would it give?

WM: Frankly speaking, I would be cautious as far as my personal recommendations and warnings are concerned because one needs greater knowledge of the situation than I have now after a few weeks’ stay in the country.

Anyway, I would recommend the businessman to meet people who can offer him more complete information on Belarus. For instance, there is the German Economy’s Office here representing Germany's commerce and industry chambers. We have the Economic Club featuring a number of companies and businesspeople with very big experience.

BelaPAN: What industries would be of interest to German businesses? As big privatization takes off in this country, what companies could be of interest to German investors?

WM: Being ignorant in the area because of my short stay in Belarus, I can specify only two areas in which I can imagine interesting opportunities for production your country. This is the food industry, based on the good level of education and good industrial traditions, and machine building. I think such companies would be more efficient here than in other areas.

Last week I met a member of the board of a large German company, an automotive industry subsupplier, and asked what he thought of business opportunities in Belarus and would it be interesting to start up a business here. He said that prospects in the area were quite good, meaning enterprises employing from several hundred up to 2,000 workers. Using the skilled labor force, he said, it would be possible to launch a plant that would be more efficient than elsewhere.

BelaPAN: Are sanctions against Belarusian officials and enterprises effective in addressing current issues?

WM: I would like to point out that we have not imposed any sanctions on Belarus or the Belarusian economy, but rather introduced restrictive measures targeting certain individuals and their activity.

Belarus demands that it be treated as a normal European state, and rightly so. And Belarus is regarded by us as a European state. That's why it is measured against European standards

The point is that no one has imposed one’s will on Belarus. I mean commitments willingly taken by Belarus in the framework of the UN and OSCE… It's completely clear that it's important to the EU that Belarus observes these principles that have been jointly agreed upon.

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