Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1494
2005-12-13 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSK #1494 3471352 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 131352Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3456 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0467 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0784 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001494
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV BO
SUBJECT: Future of Minsk Forum in Doubt
Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001494
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV BO
SUBJECT: Future of Minsk Forum in Doubt
Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) The German Embassy in Minsk hosted the eighth annual
Minsk Forum November 24-26. This forum is meant to bring
together Belarusian and German policy leaders and NGOs to
discuss politics, economics and social issues. This year
seven Bundestag members attended, as well as several German
and Polish NGOs. However, the German Embassy reported
several problems with the event this year, which make them
think there will not be a ninth forum.
2. (C) German Poloff Tilman Schmit-Neuerburg told Econoff
that the Belarusian MFA European Division head Valeriy
Romashko warned them three weeks before the event they must
register the forum as "technical assistance" with the
Presidential Administration. This would have been a
cumbersome process that usually takes at least several
months to complete. The Embassy responded that the Vienna
Convention allows them to host an event without
registration, which the MFA eventually accepted. Romashko
also complained that invitations for GOB officials to speak
"were not cordial enough," and he suggested, "that next
year the Minsk Forum be held in Berlin."
3. (C) The day before the forum began Romashko told the
German Embassy it would not be "appropriate" for the
keynote speaker, Vice President of the European Parliament
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, to come to Belarus. Onyszkiewicz's
aide told Econoff this warning only made Onyszkiewicz want
to come all the more. They traveled to Minsk by train, and
had no problems at the border. The Germans were also
informed at the last minute that none of the MFA officials
that were invited to speak could attend. Some working
level MFA officials came to watch, but none participated in
the forum. A Deputy Economic Minister did speak in one
session. The German Embassy was disappointed that most of
the Belarusian MPs they invited did not come. A few did,
and tried to invite the Bundestag members to "official"
meetings at parliament, but the Bundestag members politely
refused.
4. (C) Comment: Given these problems, the Germans do not
know if they will be allowed to host the ninth Minsk Forum,
in November 2006. State masthead newspaper Sovietskaya
Belarussia ran a positive article about the forum, but many
of the speakers were openly critical of Lukashenko's
"dictatorship." If it is allowed, the Germans plan to co-
host the next forum with the Ukrainian Embassy. Earlier in
the year the GOB caused numerous problems that led to the
cancellation of a Swedish NGO forum in Minsk, so the
Germans are correct in pondering the future of their forum.
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV BO
SUBJECT: Future of Minsk Forum in Doubt
Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) The German Embassy in Minsk hosted the eighth annual
Minsk Forum November 24-26. This forum is meant to bring
together Belarusian and German policy leaders and NGOs to
discuss politics, economics and social issues. This year
seven Bundestag members attended, as well as several German
and Polish NGOs. However, the German Embassy reported
several problems with the event this year, which make them
think there will not be a ninth forum.
2. (C) German Poloff Tilman Schmit-Neuerburg told Econoff
that the Belarusian MFA European Division head Valeriy
Romashko warned them three weeks before the event they must
register the forum as "technical assistance" with the
Presidential Administration. This would have been a
cumbersome process that usually takes at least several
months to complete. The Embassy responded that the Vienna
Convention allows them to host an event without
registration, which the MFA eventually accepted. Romashko
also complained that invitations for GOB officials to speak
"were not cordial enough," and he suggested, "that next
year the Minsk Forum be held in Berlin."
3. (C) The day before the forum began Romashko told the
German Embassy it would not be "appropriate" for the
keynote speaker, Vice President of the European Parliament
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, to come to Belarus. Onyszkiewicz's
aide told Econoff this warning only made Onyszkiewicz want
to come all the more. They traveled to Minsk by train, and
had no problems at the border. The Germans were also
informed at the last minute that none of the MFA officials
that were invited to speak could attend. Some working
level MFA officials came to watch, but none participated in
the forum. A Deputy Economic Minister did speak in one
session. The German Embassy was disappointed that most of
the Belarusian MPs they invited did not come. A few did,
and tried to invite the Bundestag members to "official"
meetings at parliament, but the Bundestag members politely
refused.
4. (C) Comment: Given these problems, the Germans do not
know if they will be allowed to host the ninth Minsk Forum,
in November 2006. State masthead newspaper Sovietskaya
Belarussia ran a positive article about the forum, but many
of the speakers were openly critical of Lukashenko's
"dictatorship." If it is allowed, the Germans plan to co-
host the next forum with the Ukrainian Embassy. Earlier in
the year the GOB caused numerous problems that led to the
cancellation of a Swedish NGO forum in Minsk, so the
Germans are correct in pondering the future of their forum.
KROL