Brussels, 03/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Belarus will remain a member of the Eastern Partnership, despite its boycott of the Partnership's summit, the Belarusian foreign minister, Sergueï Martynov, announced on Monday 3 October. “We did not take part in the summit but we will continue to participate in the Eastern Partnership” the minister told the press. Although he criticised the “lack of practical projects” in the Partnership, he nonetheless considers that it remains “useful” to his country.
At the summit, which was held in Warsaw on 29-30 September, the leaders of the EU called for the immediate release of political prisoners in the country and have made this a precondition for stepping up its relations with Belarus. (CG/transl.fl)