- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, centre back, meets with Belarus Civil Society representatives following an international conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, in Vilnius, Lithuania. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)
Remarks at the Belarus Civil Society Roundtable
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTolerance CenterVilnius, LithuaniaDecember 6, 2011
SECRETARY CLINTON: Let me begin by saying what an honor it is for me and my colleagues to be meeting here with you today. There is probably no more difficult and no more important job than the one you are doing, which is to try to build democracy. I want to make just three short points, and then we want to hear from all of you.
First, we recognize that this has been a brutally difficult year for the people of Belarus. We know that every day there is a new arrest or a new restrictive law or further harassment against civil society and the media.
We continue to demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners. By our count, there are more than 50 individuals still in prison or under restrictive release, and I want to assure you that the United States will continue working for their freedom.
Second, we will continue, along with our partners in the European Union and other democracies, to take actions against the Lukashenko regime, including sanctions and travel bans. Until the government takes concrete steps to improve human rights and the conditions for democracy, they will not have improved relations with the United States.
And finally, although we cannot see Belarus 40 kilometers away from here, I want you to know that we have great confidence in your being on the right side of history. And your commitment is not only important to your country, but it is an inspiration to people fighting for their rights and for democracy around the world. In fact, I think your efforts are becoming quite well known. Groups, including Viasna 96, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, and the Belarusian Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs, are serving as beacons of courage far beyond your country.
So again, I am honored to be with you, and now I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Just an idle thought here: I wonder if high officials from other countries attend events like this. Did other foreign ministers meet with the Afghan civil society and women leaders yesterday, or are these signature events requested by and arranged for HRC? I believe the latter is the case and explains why almost nothing comes as a surprise to her. In fact, it explains why she sometimes knows more about what is going on beneath the surface in a country than the leaders themselves do. Her Doha speech last January at Forum For The Future stands as archetypal. She knew of the frustration and unrest below the surface in Arab societies from panels and roundtables like this one, and she warned the elders that without reform they might be facing turmoil. Tunisia's government, protested since December 18 the month before, fell the following day.
Every time she visits a country or attends a conference, Mme. Secretary takes the trouble to have meetings like this one, like a pretty nurse visiting the wards and checking vital signs. It provides her with inside knowledge that informs the kind of relationship we have and aid we provide to given countries. "Soft power" consists of a broad range of facilities at hand. "Smart Power" lies in applying these facilities wisely.
I saw a joke someone offered somewhere: There won't be any Nativity scenes in D.C. because they can't find a virgin or three wise men. Well, maybe not, but there is a wise woman. This wise woman is worth at least three wise men!
(Breaking: Just in from the White House ~ in conjunction with Mme. Secretary's upcoming speech in Geneva this Human Rights Day, the White House announces that a factor in deciding aid to foreign countries will be treatment of the LGBT community. Now where do you suppose Mme. Secretary might hear about that? You bet! In these civil society meetings.)
