Brussels, 15/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn is visiting Belarus on 16-17 April and is expected to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko there. Lukashenko is subject to European sanctions.
Hahn is also expected to hold meetings with Belarus' foreign minister Vladimir Makei and with politicians from the opposition, civil society representatives, human rights supporters and those close to political prisoners.
The main aim of Hahn's visit is “to explore ways to improve EU-Belarus relations”, the European Commission stated in a press release. The EU is still calling for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus - a country which is considered the last dictatorship in Europe, and which still uses capital punishment. Belarus has also played a positive role, however, in hosting the negotiations on the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, and in releasing political opponent Ales Bialiatski - whom Hahn met on 15 April. Belarus has also opened negotiations on visas with the EU (see EUROPE 11270).
Hahn's visit to Belarus is taking place as part of visits to the six partner countries of the Eastern Partnership before the Riga summit on 21-22 May. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)