Brussels, 17/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, is to be in Minsk on Thursday 19 February for talks with President Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister Sergei Sidorski and several members of the Belarusian government. Mr Solana will also meet the opposition (including opposition leader Alexander Milinkevitch) as well as representatives of the civil society. This is the first visit by an EU high representative to Belarus since 1997 when the Council had frozen the partnership and cooperation agreement (signed in 1995 but never implemented) and suspended political dialogue with what had become an authoritarian Lukashenko regime.
Javier Solana's visit confirms the continued policy to “thaw” relations begun by the EU27 last October when, in response to a number of improvements in the areas of human rights and democracy (release of all political prisoners, permitted entry of international observers during legislative elections), the Council decided to suspend the visa ban imposed on the main Belarusian leaders, including President Lukashenko, for six months until April 2009 (EUROPE 9760). The political message attached to this decision on 13 October 2008 was clear - if the Minsk authorities continue along the road to democratic opening and respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the EU will be willing to review its relations with Belarus to finally include it in the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) and in the future Eastern partnership intended to strengthen the eastern dimension of ENP.
This is precisely the message that Javier Solana will be delivering to President Lukashenko on Thursday. “There is an opportunity to rekindle our relations. The EU is willing to move forward along this road but Belarusian authorities must continue a policy of democratic opening” in respect of fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression and rights of opposition, a European diplomat explains. Since last October, many contacts have been held at various levels to prepare the ground for resuming political dialogue and increased sector-specific cooperation: - diplomatic visits to Minsk, two meetings between the EU troika and Foreign Minister Sergei Martinov, a phone conversation between Solana and Lukashenko, etc. In Brussels, one is pleased to note the “exemplary” attitude of President Lukashenko during the recent gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine (there was no interruption of transit towards Europe across Belarus). “He must now continue to convince us, with concrete action, that he really wants to change things” and bring his country closer to the EU, the European diplomat went on to say. Two major rewards could await Belarus. First of all, sanctions in place against its leaders (ban on visas and freeze in assets) could remain suspended, if not entirely lifted at the next review foreseen at the External Relations Council in April. Then - and this is politically more important - Belarus could be invited to join the Eastern partnership that the EU will be launching on 7 May during a summit of heads of state and government in Prague. No decision has yet been taken regarding Mr Lukashenko's possible participation at such a summit, the Czech EU Presidency explained on Tuesday, awaiting the Council's discussion in April before drawing up the final list of those invited to attend. (H.B./transl.jl)