BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

09/10/2008

EU Parliament urges easing of restrictions on Belarus

The Associated Press

BRUSSELS: EU governments should consider easing visa bans against Belarussian leaders to promote democratic change in the country, the European Parliament said Thursday, four days before foreign ministers meet to discuss the issue.

In a nonbinding resolution, the EU assembly lawmakers called on nations in the bloc to "consider a selective review and possible suspension" of some visa bans on 35 Belarussian leaders, including President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Lukashenko, an authoritarian who has ruled the nation of 10 million people since 1994, has recently signaled his intention to improve ties with the West at a time when he is arguing with Russia over energy prices.

The European Parliament motion, which passed 597 to 31, recommended that the bloc apply a six-month partial suspension of the visa ban, provided that during that time a restrictive media law is changed and other democratic reforms are made.

The lawmakers also recommended that the 27-nation EU make it easier for Belarussians to get travel visas to the EU's passport-free travel zone. They said it was "the only way to prevent Belarus and its citizens from becoming increasingly isolated."

EU envoys considered a proposal to ease visa restrictions against Lukashenko and some of his officials at talks Thursday as a way to encourage change in the former Soviet country, which remains isolated from the rest of Europe.

The EU foreign ministers will discuss the issue at talks Monday in Luxembourg and also meet with their Belarussian counterpart.

EU nations remain divided over whether to ease sanctions they imposed on Lukashenko and his regime two years ago, to protest his crackdown on opposition groups.

Finland and Poland are pushing other EU nations to agree to easing a visa ban, even though elections there last month fell short of international democratic standards. They would maintain a freeze on assets of the 35 officials.

This year, the Belarussian authorities released opposition figures from prison.

Also, the government allowed opposition candidates to take part in elections for Parliament on Sept. 28. But none of the 70 opposition candidates won a place in the 110-seat assembly.

Source:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/09/europe/minsk.php

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