BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/09/2008

Foreign Minister Sikorski meets with Belarusian diplomats

Relations between Poland and Belarus continue to improve

On Friday Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski met unexpectedly with the head of Belarus diplomacy Sergei Martynov. This is yet another high-level Poland-Belarus meeting, as during the Economic Forum in Krynica,Belarus' Deputy PM Andriey Kobiakov met with PM Donald Tusk and deputy PM Waldemar Pawlak. Radoslaw Sikorski announced that the visit with his counterpart was held in agreement with the EU.

"Belarus is not aspiring to join the European Union, but wishes to become closer with the Union," said FM Sikorski. He stressed that a condition for getting closer is "maintaining the course of democratization."

The ministers discussed the situation of the Association of Poles in Belarus, the liberalization of the visa system and abolishing the entry ban on Belarusian authorities to the EU.

"A warming of relations with the West might be very favorable, but only if it favors democratization in Belarus," said Aleksander Dobrowolski, deputy leader of Belarusian opposition party, the United Civic Party.

In a related story, Rzeczpospolita reports that President Lech Kaczynski learnt about the recent visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Belarus by chance. PO claims that the Ministry is not obliged to inform the president about every visit or meeting.

"I agree that not all activities nor visits must be notified, but the situation is different with an important meeting, such as the one in Belarus," said Piotr Kownacki, head of the President's Chancellery.

Source: Rzeczpospolita

Source:

http://www.wbj.pl/article-42518-foreign-minister-sikorski-meets-with-belarusian-diplomats.html?typ=wbj

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