BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/04/2009

Czech senate opposes Belarus attendance in EU summit

The Czech senate opposes the invitation for Belarus to attend the May 7 summit of the European Union (EU) and former Soviet republics in Prague, the Senate Commission chief said on Wednesday.

Participants in Wednesday's commission meeting have expressed a firm opposition to the invitation, said Vlastimil Sehnal.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus also showed disapproval of Belarus' attendance in the meeting. Klaus said he would not shake hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and nor receive him at Prague Castle if he arrived for the summit in May.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg on Friday invited Lukashenko to Prague for the summit aimed at an EU program of trade and aid benefits for six ex-Soviet nations, including Belarus.

The invitation was not welcomed by Belarussian oppositions either. United Civil Party leader Anatoly Lebedko said the invitation to Lukashenko amounted to the EU's "surrender to the Belarusian regime."

According to Czech diplomatic sources, the invitation has been a result of wide consultation with other EU members.

Belarus is one of the six post-Soviet countries which the EU intends to incorporate into its Eastern Partnership program. It is not yet clear whether Belarus will take part in the Prague summit.

Source:

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6643410.html

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