Brussels, 18/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers meeting informally in Senningen expressed their concern about the “deterioration in the political situation” in Belarus. The president of the Council, Jean Asselborn, said after the meeting that they have been closely monitoring the situation for several years now, noting developments in Belarus with great concern. No improvement whatsoever has been noted, he said. Quite the contrary, the regime has sought to silence the last critical voices and has strengthened its hold on all aspects of the country's political and social life, Asselborn said. It is now up to the EU to take action by rapidly implementing short and medium-term measures likely to open up the Belarus society, he went on, saying that “we cannot allow a country on the borders of Europe to slide irremediably into dictatorship”. Generally speaking, ministers reasserted the EU's support for the civil society, Asselborn pointed out. Ministers also stressed their concern for the situation of Mr Marinitch and Professor Bandajevskii, and were troubled by the fact that the forces of law and order had intervened on 25 March 2005 during a demonstration on “Freedom Day”, the anniversary of the 1918 People's Republic of Belarus. Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner stressed that the citizens of Belarus and NGOs active in the democratic field must understand that “they are already part of the EU Neighbourhood Policy” but that the political situation on the ground does not yet allow the EU to begin negotiations on an action plan with the Belarus authorities. The EU nonetheless has instruments allowing civil society to be given support in Belarus without having to go through the government authorities, and these means will be strengthened, the Commissioner said. She also announced her intention to open a Commission office in Belarus under the authority of the representation office in Kiev.