‘Nick And Mike’: Just One Point Is Holding Junta Back From Closing Embassies

• 13.09.2023, 11:13

The regime and diplomacy are incompatible.

The junta published a decision to close the embassy in Slovakia. And it’s not about the personality of the former ambassador to this country, Ihar Liashchenya. Everything is much simpler — the junta diplomats have absolutely nothing to do in these embassies, writes the Nick and Mike Telegram channel.

Missions have many tasks, but we can highlight the main ones. In order of priority for the junta.

1. Economy and trade. Until significant restrictions were imposed, the ambassadors’ tasks were to sell everything produced in Belarus. Potassium, petrochemicals, timber, metal and engineering products. Look for investments and those who will believe in the island of stability.

Since 2020, these components have turned into their opposite. Investors are thinking about how to get their money out. And trade turned in the opposite direction. The junta's cunning salesmen are looking for what they can buy in Europe to resell to Russia. The balance of trade with the EU changed its sign from plus to minus, and with Russia — from minus to plus. Embassies are not needed in the new schematosis.

2. Political contacts with elites. Until 2020, foreign policy was still Eurocentric. Most of the missions were in Europe. But in 2020, the junta is destroying political opportunities with the grace of an elephant in a china shop. Ambassadors and other diplomats are in isolation. You can read newspapers online in Minsk.

3. There are also citizens with their interests and problems. More precisely, there were. Until the adoption of Decree # 278, which turned the consuls into their complete opposite. Citizens abroad no longer exist for the junta. There will be ways for “our” people, but these are only a few loyalists.

The only thing holding the junta back from accelerating the closure process is the issue of ownership. Some buildings are under long-term lease, and many have been purchased. It is not possible to sell or terminate lease agreements quickly. Otherwise, the suitcases would be packed faster. But the trend is clear.

Junta and diplomacy are incompatible.