Poland seeks to become mediator in pursuing closer relations between the EU and Belarus
Ryszard Terlecki, the Vice Speaker of the lower house of the Polish Parliament, said that Warsaw, to a certain extent, would like to be a mediator in pursuing closer relations between Belarus and the European Union, Radio Polsha reported.
Terlecki explained that due to the historical and cultural ties between Poland and Belarus, Warsaw would be able to fit the role of mediator quite naturally.
According to the Vice Speaker, Belarus is in an important geopolitical position, and the EU is interested in having Minsk participate in certain decision making processes in Europe.
Terlecki also added that Polish election monitors will travel to Belarus for the parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for September 11.
“Poland expects the elections to be transparent and fair,” the Polish politician said.
Despite concerns over human rights abuses and specious democratic practices in Belarus, the US and the EU have welcomed Minsk’s new role as an intermediary between Moscow and the West, in which it positioned itself following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and subsequent role in the war in eastern Ukraine.