(RFE/RL: ) “Hello, Mr. Ambassador – and welcome to Radio Liberty’s Minsk studio.”
(Krol: ) (In Belarusian) “Good morning!”
(RFE/RL: ) “My colleague Valer Kalinouski and I were very amazed that, upon arrival at Minsk airport, you greeted journalists in Belarusian. Where and when did you study the Belarusian language and do you intend to continue?”
(Krol: ) “Of course it was in Washington that I studied the Belarusian language; in fact, my teacher comes from Mahilou. And I would like to continue studying the language. Thanks for asking.”
(RFE/RL: ) “You came to Minsk after being away for almost 10 years. What are your first impressions – what has changed most of all and what has remained the same ?”
(Krol: ) “Well, first I should say that it is a great pleasure to return to Belarus and to Minsk after 8 years I have been away. And of course it is a bit difficult to say right now what changes have taken place internally in Belarus in people’s minds, in the way they think about things in the course of eight years. But that will take time for me to… as I spend speaking with people and traveling to the country to understand more about what people are thinking and what changes have taken place. Visually, it seems much has changed – certainly in Minsk. It remains quite a beautiful city and there is much construction going on and beautification; it’s brighter. And far more amenities such as restaurants and stores and things of that nature give a very positive impression to development here. Having said that, if one looks at development in neighboring countries like Lithuania, or Poland, and even in Moscow where I have been for three years, perhaps the changes here are on a slower scale than they have been in the neighboring countries. But it gives me a favorable visual impression. But it will take time for me to get to know more of the changes that have taken place in the 8 years since I was gone.”
(RFE/RL: ) “The Belarusian foreign ministry welcomed the arrival of the new American ambassador. Belarusian officials say that Belarus hopes for improvement in relations with the US. What should both sides do to achieve such improvement?”
(Krol: ) “Well, from the United States side, we have made known to the Belarusian authorities that the basis for improving relations with the United States are on the conditions and principals that are found in the OSCE recommendations for changes in Belarus on election laws and the treatment of civil society, non-governmental organizations, the press and a serious investigation of these disappearances. Those four conditions are fundamental for our policy of seeking to improve relations with Belarus and the United States. Naturally, we would like to see some movement on these issues. So on the basis of these concrete decisions and actions by the Belarusian side, the American side… the American government is prepared to take actions to work more closely and engage with Belarus on a wide sphere of activities.”
(RFE/RL: ) “You’ve mentioned the disappeared persons. What do you think of (European Union Parliamentary Assembly representative) Mr Pourgourides’s visit?”
(Krol: ) “Well, I think it’s a good sign that he has come and has been received by the Belarusian authorities. It remains to be seen what are the results of this visit – because if it shows that there is serious investigation of these disappearances, that is a good sign. And I think it helps to answer and respond to concerns that arise in my country, in the United States, as well as in other countries as to what exactly has happened with these people. It’s of course a very complex and painful situation but it’s one that needs to be addressed seriously by the Belarusian authorities. And this, as I said, I hope will lead to greater movement so that there can be an explanation to the world community as to what happened and where is this investigation going.”
(RFE/RL: ) “Some Belarusian journalists and human rights activists are concerned about a supposed decrease of US assistance to Belarusian NGOs and mass media. Could you clarify this question?”
(Krol: ) “I should say that the commitment of the United States, the people and government to the processes, and supporting the processes of democratization and the development of civil society in Belarus, remains unchanged. Naturally there are circumstances that can affect how this assistance is seen and how much of it can be provided to elements in Belarusian society. Much of it is dependent upon resources that are available provided by the United States Congress, and government. So year-to-year, the amounts of assistance that are available for supporting the development of civil society may vary depending on budgetary issues in Washington. But the commitment of the United States to these developments in Belarus, as in other countries, as an essential component of our foreign policy in this area remains constant. And I should say that the amounts of resources that have been available have been more or less consistent over the years. And it is our desire of course to maintain this engagement with Belarusian society in full respect of Belarus’ sovereignty and independence as a sovereign and independent state.
(RFE/RL: ) “You worked as Director of the Office of Russian Affairs and later in the US Embassy in Moscow. Some Belarusian politicians believe that Russia intends to incorporate Belarus. There are fears that improvement of US-Russian relations is more important to Washington than Belarusian independence. Can you please comment on this issue?”
(Krol: ) “I can state quite categorically that the position of the United States on the independence and sovereignty of Belarus has been clear and longstanding certainly ever since 1992 when I came to Belarus the first time to establish diplomatic relations with the new independent Republic of Belarus in Minsk. And that is that the United States supports as a fundamental element of its policy the sovereignty and independence of Belarus. And that of course will be maintained in any of our relations with any countries that have to deal with Belarus. And as far as relations between United States and Russia dealing with Belarus, I would have to say it is not an element that the United States discusses with Russia as an element of policy. I mean, there is a discussion about regional developments and our general position of supporting stability in this region and the hope that the neighbors of Belarus, and Belarus, will all be engaged in the general processes of integration of this region into the wider trans-Atlantic community, which includes Russia and Belarus together as a part of an undivided and free Europe. That has been a fundamental principal of American foreign policy. So we, of course, will discuss Belarus and these developments with Russia in the context of integration of the region as a part of the trans-Atlantic community of nations.”
(RFE/RL: ) “Do you mean integrating Belarus into NATO?”
(Krol: ) “Well, not exactly. Of course, if Belarus has a desire to achieve membership in NATO, that is its own sovereign right to go for it. That’s not the matter of, say, that Belarus must become a member of NATO in order to become a part of trans-Atlantic community. There are many countries in Europe that are not members of NATO but are members of the trans-Atlantic community of nations, you name…Switzerland, Sweden, whatever. And they are full partners in this process of economic and political integration. And that of course it’s up to Belarus to decide what role it would take. And again, the future of Belarus is not lying in the hands of Washington or Moscow or Brussels. But it lies here in Minsk, in Belarus. And the Belarusian people should have the opportunity to decide for themselves freely as a sovereign independent nation the course of their future.”
(RFE/RL: ) “Back to the Russian factor… Certain US pundits believe that more pressure should be exerted on Russia to create changes in Belarus. What do you think are the possiblities of influencing Minsk through Moscow?”
(Krol: ) “Well, I touched upon this in my previous answer: That is, that we encourage countries and particularly the neighbors of Belarus, and Belarus itself, to work in the overall processes of integrating themselves into this, as I say, trans-Atlantic community of nations – as it develops close economic and political ties, and to the extent that Russia can be helpful as a part of that process. That is, I think something would be a positive development in its relationship – again, not only with Minsk but with other capitals in the region as well. So I think it’s a matter of importance as to what are Moscow’s intentions in its influencing Minsk. And we would hope that its intentions would be for encouraging Belarus too, as Russia itself will be trying to meet these standards of European behavior and economic and political integration.
(RFE/RL: ) "Mr. Ambassador, Belarus authorities are fond of pointing out the differences between the US and European approaches to Belarus. Indeed, Europe did not support the US stance to deny OSCE Parliamentary Assembly recognition of Belarus' National Assembly. How significant in fact are these differences and do you think a single, unified approach is possible?"
(Krol: ) “Well, I have not seen actually much in a way of difference between the European and American approach to Belarus. I think that there has been a great deal of common interest and a common approach. In my conversations with my colleagues from European Union embassies and other embassies, as well as our discussions with the European Union in Brussels and bilaterally with other countries, I have always met with agreement on the approach to Belarus – of trying to, again, persuade and integrate Belarus into the wider processes of European and trans-Atlantic community development. And we all express concern over the slowness of Belarus’ efforts to integrate itself into this larger community, and a concern that Belarus – which geographically and culturally so much is a part of Europe – should develop itself and recognize itself as a bridge and an integral part of Europe rather than becoming an island into itself with its own sort of political and economic policies, that make it less and less capable of working with the world outside and the European world and American world outside which in these societies have a great role for non-govermental organizations, for a free and open press and things of this nature, and business… and particularly on the economic side, where businesses need to have regular and predictable policies that will allow for this development, too. And so we all, I think, share the same concerns and all, I think, have the same approach of trying to… with understanding of Belarus’ particular historical and political background… of how best to encourage this integrated development rather than isolation developments.
(RFE/RL: ) “The Chairman of the US Helsinki Commission Congressman Christopher Smith recently stated the following: 'In the absence of serious consequences, authoritarian leaders know they can steal any election without punishment. Election after election, they ignore the will of their people and are scornful of the OSCE.' Does your own 10-year experience in the State Department working with former Soviet states make you pessimistic or, instead, hopeful?”
(Krol: ) “I’d have to say that having been a witness and a part of the whole process of transition in the former Soviet Union starting when I first came to Leningrad in 1990 and had witnessed and experienced the effects of the collapse of the Soviet Union – that I remain quite an optimist about developments because I am under no illusion how difficult this process of transition is, or it would take many years and generations perhaps of people living in this area of the world of the former Soviet Union to develop… certainly in the areas of election and democratic development these kind of practices. It’s been a long and oftentimes difficult history for all countries including my own, the United States, of the development of our democratic political system. And I am under no illusion how difficult it is in the background of the former Soviet Union. But nevertheless I think we do see that elections are taking place, there are problems with them, but there has been, I think, greater interest in populations in these elections in the republics of the former Soviet Union… and the growth of interest through non-governmental bodies and through the whole issue of political campaigns. So there will always be problems and continue to be problems – but I think we can see the development of the election processes and the experience in the election processes and campaigns that over time will, I think, benefit these developments in this area of the world.
(RFE/RL: ) “Let's move on to some softer questions...You mentioned Leningrad, where you worked in the US General Consulate. There's some joking that you're a friend of Putin's "St. Petersburg group". You met him while you were there at the time?”
(Krol: ) “Yes. When I served in Leningrad (it had changed the name to Saint Petersburg) in 1991-1992, I remember meeting then deputy mayor Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin when he worked for Mayor Sabchak. And of course that was a long time ago but I did know him somewhat at that time period and worked with him when I was in our consulate general.”
(RFE/RL: ) “And, as the official US representative in Minsk, you congratulated Alexander Lukashenka with victory after the 1994 election?”
(Krol: ) “Well, that election was one that of course had taken place and I remember attending the inauguration festivity, or at least there was a reception that was given. And I met newly elected president Lukashenko at that time in 1994 and had given him our official congratulations on his election victory in that year.”
(RFE/RL: ) “Therefore, you have good, solid experience here. Your official biography states that your interests include history, travel and sometimes horseback riding. Where do you prefer to explore – in urban areas or the countryside? Will you be able to pursue some of your hobbies here in Belarus?”
(Krol: ) “Naturally, it’s always a problem when you are an ambassador finding the time to have your hobbies since it’s a very busy schedule – meetings and presentations and events… which is very enjoyable, because you have good feelings meeting with people and also a feeling that I am representing over 260 million American citizens everywhere I go. But personally I do love Belarus and Minsk as well, and any chance that I get, I enjoy walking in the city to see how it has changed and it has become easier to get around the city with sidewalks and to see the restoration of the old parts of the city… I find very interesting.
My residence is out in Raubichi, which is very pleasant area, and I greatly enjoy hiking in that area and I hope to have more time to explore the woods and fields of Belarus – not just in the Minsk area but when I travel as well. I was very pleased to return to Belarus because I always enjoyed its beauty, the beauty of the countryside and its real warmth of the people wherever you go. And I think that Belarus has a great potential as a tourist center. And I hope to see as much of it before the hoards of tourists start descending on Belarus in the future – that I am sure will happen because it is such a beautiful country.”