Trying to lead the European movement against Lukashenko, Poland and Lithuania rushed forward, pushing each other apart, filling bruises and bumps along the way.
In his article on the portal Baltnews, Mateusz Piskorski reflects on the sudden jealousy that arose in Warsaw with colleagues in Vilnius, who are still outplaying the Poles in the Belarusian direction.
According to the author, Poland’s attempt to play at least some role in resolving the Belarusian crisis is doomed to failure from the outset. The involvement of the Baltic countries in Warsaw’s initiatives will also not in any way affect the strengthening of the position of the Polish leadership both in Belarus and in the EU.
From the very beginning, two Eastern European states, driven by the memory of the former greatness of the historical Rzeczpospolita and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, one way or another dreamed of returning Belarus to their sphere of influence.
If for Lithuania it is a chance to become a regional leader, Poland has more global plans. In fact, trying to recreate a certain configuration of “Greater Poland from sea to sea” under their control, they still could not get the Belarusian element to complete the puzzle.
But this is their main mistake and weakness in comparison with the position of Lithuania.
“One gets the impression that Lithuania easily beat Poland in the Belarusian issue. All this, despite the existing contradictions between Vilnius and Minsk, is associated, for example, with the construction of the BelNPP. Ideological and historical factors also played a role, the author of the article writes. The rhetoric of Poland is often based on the assertion that Warsaw bears special “responsibility” for the former Polish eastern territories. Vilnius’ rhetoric is devoid of such an “imperial” accent and is based on calls for the observance of human rights and democratic standards.
Poland’s role as coordinator of the Belarusian operation is fraught with image risk. After all, it is easy to remember about the “colonial” past, the “Polish lords” and create certain associations with modern attempts by Warsaw to interfere in the internal affairs of independent Belarus.
In addition, unlike Ukraine, which is equally infected with the virus of Russophobia and resentment towards Russia, Belarus, at least now, cannot be called a country with anti-Russian sentiments. And therefore, the rabid nationalism, so easily promoted during the Kiev Maidan, will not work in Minsk and it is necessary to look for a softer approach, lulling with affectionate speeches about “milk rivers with jelly banks” that will certainly await everyone who has chosen the path of “European civilization”.
This is what Vilnius is doing now, which will apparently remain the main European coordinator of the Belarusian protests.