Brussels, 10/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 9 July, MEPs from the European Parliament's foreign affairs (AFET) committee called on the EU to take advantage of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers and of the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November to unblock its relations with Belarus - particularly the relaunch of political dialogue. In the recommendations resolution of Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D, Lithuania) which they adopted (55 votes in favour, one against and five abstentions), the MEPs call on the EU to facilitate the participation of Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Uladzimir Makei (whose visa ban has been suspended) in the Eastern Partnership summit, “first and foremost for a constructive dialogue on the release of political prisoners”. The MEPs stress that the “immediate and unconditional” release of all political prisoners remains an “essential condition” for any lifting of EU sanctions and for the improvement of relations.
The AFET committee states that the EU must remain firm on the visa ban and assets freeze for people directly involved in the violation of human rights. Yet it would like the EU to plan unilaterally to facilitate the issue of visas for the people of Belarus - at an affordable price.
The EU should increase its technical and financial support to civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and independent media, to human rights defenders and unions, the AFET committee adds.
The AFET committee MEPs want the EU to study all the strategic options available so that Minsk can make a number of reforms - including the lifting of restrictions on the democratic opposition, modernisation of the judicial system and abolition of the death penalty. (CG/transl.fl)