3 March, 2011According to the European Metalworkers' Federation, the Netherlands is Belarus' second biggest trade partner after Russia. Its share in total Belarus exports is 11.1 per cent. EMF calls for the introduction of economic sanctions against Belarus. Stopping the oil transit to the Netherlands would be the most effective form of pressure on the regime.
EUROPE: The European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) calls for an end to the oil transit from Belarus to the Netherlands. The political situation in Belarus is deteriorating rapidly, softer sanctions against the Belarus regime don't work, so "stopping the oil flow to the Netherlands would be the most effective measure at this stage", claims the EMF in its statement.
After the December 19 elections the level of political repression in Belarus grew quickly. Independent unions have also come under fire - we've already reported on the search of the Minsk office of the Union of Workers of Radio and Electronics Industry (REPAM) conducted by the State Security Committee and questioning of union officials in Minsk and Brest, as well as an inquiry of the Ministry of Justice into the Free Metalworkers' Union (SPM). Both REPAM and SPM are affiliated to the IMF.
In this context EMF joins the Belarus opposition in demanding the introduction of economic sanctions against Belarus. The Netherlands' share in Belarus exports is 11,1 per cent, roughly 97 per cent of which accounts for oil products - in total, 2,38 billion USD. Belarus basically delivers Russian oil to the Dutch. "The Netherlands is a key player in Belorussian trade and, aside from Russia, the only country that can initiate an effective economic boycott," states the EMF.
On January 25 Belorussian opposition leaders visited the Dutch foreign minister Rosenthal. During the meeting Rosenthal declared that the Dutch government is in favour of the sanctions - a visa ban and asset freeze of the regimes' agents - approved by the EU, however it could not meet the opposition's request for economic sanctions claiming that this would be a European matter.
IMF is deeply concerned with the violations of human and trade union rights in Belarus. Recent elections and the followed repressions against individuals and independent organizations, trade unions among them attest to the rapid deterioration of political situation in Belarus.
Since ending the oil transit from Belarus to the Netherlands is a European matter, EMF could play a strategic role in it, effectively supporting the Belarus civil society and independent trade unions.