There are not that many people whose shoes I would never like to try on. But one of them is definitely Belarus foreign minister Martynau.
Think of a highly educated person able to fill large shoes. But, Martynau’s function is actually limited to promoting foreign trade. Foreign policy is drafted in the administration of the president. The foreign affairs chief serves as a postman to deliver messages to/from Lukashenka and as a whipping boy during international scandals.
How would a minister explain the newest escalating conflict with the Polish minority? On Friday (February 12) Martynau was in Warsaw to meet his Polish counterpart and to receive a letter to the Belarusian president with a list of proposals what Poland could do, if the Belarusian authorities don’t stop harassing the minority.
Since 2005 there are two Unions of Poles in existance. The head of the government-approved one, who won non-competitive elections, is rumoured not to speak any Polish at all, the head of the unofficial one, Angelika Borys, is supported by Warsaw.
The “reply” to the Polish letter came right the following Monday (February 15): some 40 Polish minority activists were detained, several immediately faced trial for organising a demonstration a week ago. Borys got a fine of 1 million Belarusian roubles (some €250).
The day after HR Ashton raised her eyebrows about the conflict (February 17), the detentions continued. Are Belarusian Poles so destructive and dangerous?
Who you gonna call? “Hello, Mr Martynau, could you please explain us what …is going on?”
HR Ashton said today (February 22) she would hope to talk to Minister Matrynov about the situation with the Polish minority during presidential inauguration in Kiev on Thursday.
There could be a dozen of unofficial explanations of the status quo: the need of Minsk to take in hand the independent Polish union, to gain full control a year before presidential elections and show everyone who is the boss with a victorious fight against an assumed “enemy.” It could also be Minsk’s way of showing how disillusioned it is with the slow thaw of bilateral relations with the EU. It might be the two wings of power within the regime in dispute over which way to go – East or West? Some Polish experts tend to think it’s Russian PM Putin putting pressure on the EU to see how far it is willing to step into Polish and Russian strategic interests in the region.
Now the concert of German Rammstein is about to be forbidden: The Council on Morals fears that it will destroy nothing less than Belarusian statehood and identity.
Mr Martynau, is the system really so fragile?
#1 by Kazimierz on February 24, 2010 - 5:46 am
Well, after “revolution” in Georgia and “orange revolution” in Ukraine, “blue revolusion” was designed for Belarus. But it didn’t succeed. One of its consequences is a split in Polish minority in Belarus into anti-Lukaszenko group and pro-Lukaszenko group. This situation lasts already 5 years.
#2 by Tobias on February 24, 2010 - 5:50 pm
@Kazimierz: Almost correct, only our revolution was supposed to be “purple”, but “blue”… Catholic church… Opus Dei… do I need to say more?
#3 by Primary on February 24, 2010 - 9:13 pm
Martynau? What a name! Looks like German. I think it’s the first time I come across this “Belorussian-style” interpretation of the name. But his real name is actually Martynov (and he calls himself like this too).
#4 by Tobias on February 24, 2010 - 9:42 pm
@Martynau It’s not an interpretation, it’s just his name in Belarusian spelling. Belarusian and Russian spellings in Belarus are generally employed depending on the language of preference or current mood of the author. Mr. Martynau would be much more upset about you writing “Belorussia” instead of “Belarus” – on a visit to Germany he recently snailed at a journalist “We are Be-la-rus, not Weißrussland” )))
#5 by Primary on February 25, 2010 - 10:04 pm
Thank you for the explanation. I think it’s strange to tell other people how should they call your country in their language. After all, Belarus in Belorussian means exactly the same – White Russia. Why are they trying to get rid of Weissrussland and Belorussia?… The same with Kiev, for example. At the recent elections at the OSCE mission everybody called the city Kiev, but in some maps it was Kyiv, the city name in the Ukrainian spelling. But why should I use Ukrainian spelling while speaking English? Just to show respect to the new-born democracy?
#6 by Maryna Rakhlei on February 26, 2010 - 12:27 am
2Primary: yes, please!
Nobody insists on Leningrad, why should one insist on Kiev? After all, the only state language in Ukraine is Ukranian – if one finds it convenient or not
#7 by DZIAK on February 26, 2010 - 4:39 pm
After all, Belarus in Belorussian means exactly the same – White Russia.
___
Let me explain you the origin of the toponym “Belarus”. “Bel” stands for a part of the word “white” , here you’re right.
BUT “rus” comes from the Scandinavian word (ruotsi). White Russia does not have any sense and SURE Belarus in Belarusian DOES NOT mean White Russia, as you think.
Just because the toponym originates from scandinavian “rus”, not modern toponym “russia” (though it originates from “rus” also).
#8 by Primary on February 26, 2010 - 7:29 pm
2Maryna. Right, but nobody insists on Sankt-Peterburg also. In English you’ll say Saint-Petersburg, and Moscow – not Moskva – and this is OK, right? Nobody says: hey, look, the only state language in Russia is Russian, so everybody, change your language habits. And of course the only state language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. I am Ukrainian too (you definitely thought I’m Russian – got you!). But we speak about English, not Ukrainian . And personally I don’t insist on Kiev – but it’s the right word for that city in English. Or maybe Dziak will tell me, that KYIV or ZAPORIZHZHIA is original English words? After I’ve been explained the gigantic difference between Rus and Russia I’m ready to everything. That’s just the way language is used for political reasons. It’s already not related to your article though.
#9 by Anonymous on February 27, 2010 - 2:40 pm
Cheers Primary !!
#10 by secretsteve on November 7, 2011 - 4:17 pm
I don’t think my council would have allowed Rammstein and I live in Croydon, London. LOL
Regards to all,
Steve