BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
10/03/2008
Belarus, EU Sign Agreement On EU Diplomatic Mission In Minsk
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Varanetski signed an agreement in Brussels on March 7 on the establishment of a European Commission delegation in Minsk, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. "We are ready to re-engage with you, and move toward normalization of our relations, provided that additional serious steps are taken in Belarus toward democratization," Ferrero-Waldner said. The European Commission has been trying to open a Minsk office since 2005. A significant development in relations between Brussels and Minsk took place in late 2007 when President Lukashenka authorized Varanetski to negotiate with the commission and sign the final agreement. In addition, the recent release of several people regarded by the West as political prisoners has contributed to the warming of relations. "I look forward to Belarus confirming these signals with the release of [imprisoned oppositionist] Kazulin," Ferrero-Waldner said. Kazulin, who ran in the March 2006 presidential election, was arrested during antigovernment demonstrations that followed the polls and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for organizing events that disturbed the public order. Kazulin returned to a high-security correctional facility near Vitsebsk after recently being granted three days of leave to attend the funeral of his wife. AM
Source:
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/03/3-cee/cee-100308.asp
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