EU puts squeeze on Belarus
WORKERS, FEB 2007 ISSUE
"It's indicative that we see such a vitriolic reaction! We appear to be causing the government some concern, to say the least," said James Howard, Director, International Trade Union Confederation, following a measured and reasonable response by the Belarus government to EU threats to withdraw economic trading agreements with the country under the EU's Generalised System of Preferences. (See December 2006 issue of Workers.)
What did the Belarus statement say? "That the EU decision absolutely runs counter to the stated goal of 'providing support to [the] Belarussian population"...that 'The EU decision is in complete discord with the positive dialogue maintained by the Government of Belarus with the International Labour Organisation"..."Exerting pressure from outside on the Belarussian people and its state will not yield any results..." Throughout, the Belarus response is transparent, moderate and welcoming to equal and mutual respectful dialogue.
So what is the International Trade Union Confederation? It is a slightly reconfigured anti-Communist cold war 'free' trade union confederation embracing right-wing US, British, Catholic trade union opinion and heavy doses of security services direction.
The US and EU agenda for the eradication of Marxist ideology in the trade unions is heavily slanted towards the emerging East European countries. What is being done in the name of democracy, trade unionism, non-governmental organisations, the free media, and so on, is funded and directed by the CIA and others of its ilk.