BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

16/08/2007

Polish Politicians Turned Away From Belarusian Border

Belarusian border guards on August 15 refused to allow Polish Senate Deputy Speaker Krzysztof Putra to enter the country, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Putra, along with Romuald Lanczkowki from the Senate chancellery, was traveling to Hrodna to attend Polish Army Day celebrations held by an organization of Belarusian Poles that is not recognized by the Belarusian government. Later the same day, Belarusian border guards also turned away Donald Tusk, leader of Poland's opposition party Civic Platform, and his fellow party member Robert Tyszkiewicz. "We welcome any visits by official Polish representatives to our country if they have constructive intentions, but trips for the purpose of political profiteering or for exploiting the Polish minority in Belarus in order to gain additional dividends in the internal political arena of Poland are not met and will not be met with our understanding," Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Vanshyna said. "In each state, there is a list of persons whose presence on the territory of the state is unwelcome. Such a list exists in Belarus as well," she added. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/08/3-cee/cee-160807.asp