21.12.2011
Polish expert: Belarus preserves multiethnic tolerant identity
KAMENETS DISTRICT, 21 December (BelTA) – Belarus has preserved a multiethnic tolerant identity, Director of the European Center of Geopolitical Analysis Mateusz Piskorski told the international conference “20 years without the USSR –CIS – Eurasian Union” that is held in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha national reserve, BelTA has learnt.
“While working in the center I have visited almost all the former Soviet republics. Belarus is the only of them that is not based on ethnic or ethnocratic principles. I think that Belarus can truly lead all integration processes. Belarus has preserved a multiethnic tolerant identity,” the expert said.
“Disintegration starts with ethnic and social disaccord,” Mateusz Piskorski underlined. He added that nothing of this kind happens in Belarus. The Belarusian state, in his view, is built on an absolutely different foundation. He reminded that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a multiethnic state. Mateusz Piskorski noted, “Multiethnic identity that was shaped in the times of the Soviet Union was preserved in its best way in Belarus.”
Talking about possible cooperation between the European Union and the Eurasian Union, the Polish expert noted that the two organizations should discuss common projects. “Only a big project based on ideas of tolerance, ethnical and cultural diversity, even on a multi-civilization principle can work out in the modern world and become one of the most importance factors of peaceful development on a vast Eurasian space,” the Polish expert said.
“While working in the center I have visited almost all the former Soviet republics. Belarus is the only of them that is not based on ethnic or ethnocratic principles. I think that Belarus can truly lead all integration processes. Belarus has preserved a multiethnic tolerant identity,” the expert said.
“Disintegration starts with ethnic and social disaccord,” Mateusz Piskorski underlined. He added that nothing of this kind happens in Belarus. The Belarusian state, in his view, is built on an absolutely different foundation. He reminded that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a multiethnic state. Mateusz Piskorski noted, “Multiethnic identity that was shaped in the times of the Soviet Union was preserved in its best way in Belarus.”
Talking about possible cooperation between the European Union and the Eurasian Union, the Polish expert noted that the two organizations should discuss common projects. “Only a big project based on ideas of tolerance, ethnical and cultural diversity, even on a multi-civilization principle can work out in the modern world and become one of the most importance factors of peaceful development on a vast Eurasian space,” the Polish expert said.