New Sanctions Weaken Russia and EEU Member Countries Even More: Belarusian Political Scientist
“Weakening of West-Russia tension shouldn’t even be touched upon,” Valery Karbalevich, Belarusian political scientist, political commentator of Radio Liberty’s Belarusian service, told 168.am, reflecting to new sanctions imposed by the USA against Russia and perspectives for EEU.
U.S. Department of Commerce expanded the list of sanctions including more 11 Russian companies. On the whole, 81 companies are included in the list. Last week U.S. Ministry of Finance also expanded the list. In particular, restrictions have been defined against 20 companies and 17 physical persons. Sanctions have been imposed against Gazprom and daughter companies of Moscow Bank, as well as the companies functioning in the Crimea.
The new list almost completely repeats the document of the Ministry of Finance issued on September 1, however, 11 new companies appeared in the “black list.” It was clarified by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of U.S. Department of Commerce, that sanctions refer to export of materials and technologies produced by Russian companies.
Valery Karbalevich said no matter Russian policy attempts to create the illusion of readiness for concessions as a result of serious losses, it continues implementation of Eurasian ambitions, the West no more believes in those attempts. In his words, when the Russian side hoped, that Russia-West hazardous stage is in the past and restoration of economy, restart of EEU programs could have been launched, when new sanctions have been imposed.
“Russia’s officials, representatives of the expert community recently expressed hope that it’ll be possible to restore activeness of EEU, moreover, think of expanding the Union and making it a counterbalance to the European Union (EU), although EEU for member countries hasn’t existed since its formation,” Karbalevich said. In his conviction, the surprising news of the representative of EEU industrial policy department wasn’t accidental at all, that “Made in Belarus” or “Made in Armenia” markings will be eliminated from the commodities produced in those countries.
“This is done with resemblance to the EU. Likewise marking is justified in case, when the same criteria are used in all member countries of the union, when the union really functions as one homogeneous structure. In this case, of course, this marking will completely bear formal character and is done on purpose, as EEU organizers know themselves that the union doesn’t have content ground, thus, impression should be made that EEU production really exists. However, we all know, that there are no criteria and values in EEU, even economic interests connecting those countries, conditioned by the existent situation in Russia. The USA surprised once again by sending a message, that Russia doesn’t have the right to feel ‘free’,” the political scientist said. According to the latter, new sanctions even more weaken Russia and EEU member countries, including Belarus and Armenia.
“I don’t observe any grounds to insist that sharp angles between the West and Russia have been smoothened, they continue both in Ukraine and Syria, which don’t promise positive perspectives. The U.S. warns Russia, that any step by Russia, even on cyber platform, will have an equal response by the USA. I guess you remember that last month Western media outlets disseminated information that Russia is responsible to break the electronic server of the Democratic Party and will be punished by sanctions. I guess these were those very sanctions.
This is the reason that the president of Belarus decided to slightly orient to Europe and initiated certain work to that end, realizing that only Russian gas won’t save Belarus. With time all the post-Soviet countries, including Armenia, will realize that they shouldn’t pin hopes on Russia only, as an economic partner, investor, security guarantor, as Russia is in the most unreliable economic and political condition, as a result of its pursued policy,” the Belarusian political scientist concluded.
By Araks Martirosyan
