Strasbourg, 23/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - Following its usual Thursday afternoon debate on matters of topical interest, the European Parliament, in Strasbourg on 22 May, adopted a joint regulation on Belarus. Parliament deeply regretted that the situation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law was not improving in Belarus. It pointed out that constant arbitrary arrests of members of civil society and opposition activists, notably the recent temporary detention and trial of Aleksander Milinkevich, and the clampdown on the independent media, contradict the recent rhetoric of the Belarusian government concerning its wish to improve relations with the European Union. It reiterated that compliance with democratic principles is the key issue for the normalisation of relations with Belarus. (O.J.)