BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
17/04/2009
Belarus opposition slam EU for inviting Lukashenko
The Associated Press
MINSK, Belarus (AP) - MINSK, Belarus (AP) ? Belarusian opposition leaders harshly criticized the European Union Friday for its decision to invite the ex-Soviet nation's authoritarian leader to an East-West summit.
United Civil Party leader Anatoly Lebedko said the invitation to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko amounted to the EU's "surrender to the Belarusian regime."
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg on Friday invited Lukashenko to Prague for the May 7 summit of the EU and former Soviet republics. The summit is set to launch an ambitious EU program of trade and aid benefits for six ex-Soviet nations, including Belarus.
Lukashenko's spokesman Pavel Lyogky said the leader hadn't decided whether to go or send another official.
Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 10 million with an iron hand since 1994, stifling dissent and extending his tenure through votes which the West called fraudulent. Lukashenko recently has taken steps to improve relations with the West, and the EU has suspended its travel sanctions against him and other Belarusian officials.
But Lukashenko's opponents say his moves were just window-dressing which didn't change his authoritarian ways.
"Europe has taken out a carrot instead of stick, but Lukashenko doesn't deserve that," Lebedko told The Associated Press.
Alexander Kozulin, who challenged Lukashenko during the last presidential election in 2006, said the Belarusian leader hasn't taken any steps that would justify the EU's invitation.
"Europe has made a grave mistake, and it now shares responsibility for what is going on in this country," said Kozulin, who was freed last summer after spending more than two years in prison.
Kozulin and other Belarusian opposition figures were released from custody last year as part of Lukashenko's efforts to mend ties with the West.
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