Luxembourg, 13/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, EU27 foreign ministers decided to temporarily suspend, for an initial period of six months, the ban on the main Belarus leaders travelling to the territory of the EU, including the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko. The ban on visas, however, still remains in force, for all individuals directly implicated in the disappearances of 1999/2000, as well as for the president of the country's Central Electoral Commission. In six months' time, the Council will re-examine whether Minsk has made progress towards reform of the electoral code and respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. If this proves to be the case, restrictive measures will remain suspended and additional flexibility may occur. On the other hand, ministers agreed that if no or insignificant progress is made in the next few months, the Council may decide to reintroduce travel bans at the end of the six months or even earlier if necessary. The other chapter involving European sanctions in place, the freezing of certain leaders' assets banned from going to the EU, will remain in application (these sanctions were even extended on Monday for a further 12 months).
With the partial suspension of the ban on travel, the EU intends to reward the Minsk authorities for the progress made by the country over recent months, notably the release of the last political prisoners (in August) and agreeing to allow OSCE observers to monitor the general elections on 28 September. Although this election was not democratic, the EU observed certain “improvements” such as the fact that the opposition had greater access to the media and that it was able to peacefully demonstrate the evening of the elections in the streets of Minsk. To encourage the regime to continue in the sense of a greater democratic opening up, more respect for fundamental rights and support of the democratic forces in the opposition, the EU decided on Monday to resume political dialogue with Belarus leaders. In conclusions adopted on Monday, ministers affirmed, “the European Union earnestly hopes for gradual re-engagement with Belarus and is therefore ready to develop a dialogue with the Belarusian authorities, as with all those participating in the democratic debate, with the aim of encouraging genuine progress towards strengthening democracy and respect for human rights in that country”. The Council also decided to strengthen links with the Belarusian administration and population, including through technical cooperation initiated by the Commission with Belarus in areas of mutual interest (Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner spoke inter alia of energy, the environment, transport and customs cooperation). The EU also undertook to continue to provide assistance for Belarusian civil society in order to promote the development of a democratic and pluralist environment.
On Monday evening, the EU ministerial troika met Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov in Luxembourg. EUROPE will return to this meeting. (H.B./transl.rh/rt)