23/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Sanctions imposed by the European Union (visa ban, freezing of financial assets) against the Lukashenko regime in Belarus have been counter-productive, in the opinion of Ukrainian foreign minister Boris Tarassiouk, quoted by the Ria Novosti press agency. “I do not share the view that sanctions can somehow help the Belarusian people,” he said. “I think we have to work with civil society in Belarus, with non-governmental organisations, while continuing to develop relations with the government of the country”. Contacts are continuing between Ukrainian and Belarusian governments and bilateral trade figures were still rising, Mr Tarassiouk said.