Brussels, 19/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 July, Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle stressed that it was a fallacy to think that the future of Belarus was simply based on a choice between the EU or Russia when, “in reality, the choice is between democracy with accountability on one side and autocracy on the other”. He made this statement in a meeting with nine Belarus journalists from a press agency, the written press, the internet and radio.
The EU commissioner added that the EU was following the situation in Belarus very closely and was not getting tired of paying close attention to the developments there. He explained that, “the only thing which is tiring is that we do not see any improvements in democratic standards and respect for human rights”. He also underlined the three pillars of the EU approach to Belarus: targeted sanctions, support to the civil society and European Dialogue on Modernisation.
The commissioner praised the “crucial” role played by the independent media in a sector that was dominated by the State. He said that the independent media, “deserve all of our support in these difficult times” because they have been, “one of the main victims of the authorities' crackdown on independent opinions”. (CG/trans/fl)