"Germany damages credibility of European policies"

In response to facts which have emerged regarding the provision of training and equipment to Belarusian security forces by the German police, Green MEP Werner Schulz, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, makes the following statement:

That the Belarusian security forces have received training and equipment with the assistance of the German Police is a deplorable state of affairs.

Germany, a state governed by the rule of law, has been providing practical instruction to dictators. The invitation to the CASTOR transports has nothing to do with technical cooperation or training aimed at promoting closer relations with the citizenry and the rule of law. Lukashenko’s security forces successfully applied what they learned at Gorleben in December of 2010, while suppressing civil protests. Hundreds of regime opponents who demonstrated against the rigged presidential elections were beaten, arrested and sentenced.

Although it is not yet clear how extensive this assistance actually was, we can be certain that the German government has done serious damage to the credibility of EU policies through its piecemeal approach in releasing the information that has been wrung from it. With elections in Belarus only a few weeks away, there should be no doubt that Europe stands staunchly and unequivocally in support of the political opposition and the civil society of Belarus, and not with the Lukashenko regime.

It is vital that the Bundestag conduct a full investigation as quickly as possible. Moreover, a determination must be made at the EU level as to whether Germany, through this equipment assistance, has violated existing EU sanctions relating to supplies which might be used for internal repression.

It is actions, not rhetoric, that render a policy credible. The German government should put an end to its act as a model pupil, which involves the issue of sweeping calls for greater European engagement with Belarus. Germany could better demonstrate genuine interest in the latter by forcefully advocating additional, effective measures against the regime and abandoning the reticence driven by economic interests it has shown up to now.