BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
13/10/2008
EU to unfreeze relations with Belarus, discuss Russia ties
The EU is set to hold talks with Belarus's foreign minister today (13 October) for the first time since the bloc imposed travel restrictions on its government following manipulated presidential elections in 2006. In parallel, the bloc's foreign ministers will discuss whether to resume partnership talks with Russia after the withdrawal of its troops from Georgia.
The Union's meeting with Belarus's Serhiy Martynov will take place on the fringes of the bloc's foreign affairs ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, where the easing of travel sanctions will feature high on the agenda.
A majority of EU member states is willing to reward the "first positive signs of opening up" in Belarus following last month's parliamentary elections, despite ongoing human rights violations, EU diplomats told EurActiv. Such a policy shift would have the backing of the European Parliament, which last week voted in favour of a six-month suspension of visa bans imposed on some Belarusian figures currently not able to enter the EU.
But for the time being, the Netherlands remains opposed to easing sanctions, arguing that the last elections were far from democratic. The Belarusian opposition had called on the EU not to recognise the 'farcial' vote, in which allies of President Alexander Lukashenko, seen as Europe's last dictator, claimed all the seats in the 110-strong parliament (EurActiv 29/09/08).
EU foreign ministers will also review relations with Russia after the French EU Presidency confirmed that the country had stuck to a 10 October deadline for withdrawing its troops from Georgian territory, as agreed in the six-point peace plan struck by French President Nicolas Sarkozy (EurActiv 18/08/08).
More Russia-critical countries such as Poland, Sweden and the Baltic republics, however, argue that Moscow has not kept the deal, maintaining still about 7,000 troops in the two separatist regions, compared to only 2,000-3,000 before the August war.
Those countries are thus opposed to simply going back to business with Russia and following the majority line by resuming talks on a new partnership agreement, which have been suspended since the start of the war.
It is unlikely that the ministers will make a decision today. In any case, it would still have to be confirmed by EU leaders at their summit on Wednesday (15 October).
On the same day, international talks on the future of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which will involve officials from EU, Russia, Georgia and the United States, are due to start in Geneva. But these talks could last for years due to the long list of "practical problems" regarding the future of the two Georgian breakaway provinces, European diplomats said on Friday.
Source:
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