BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
13/10/2008
EU lifts travel ban on Belarusian officials
The European Union has lifted a ban on President Alexander Lukashenko and other Belarusian government officials travelling to EU countries. EU ministers have decided to suspend the travel restrictions for six months. However, diplomats said the suspension would not apply to those involved in the disappearance of political prisoners. The bank deposits of Belarusian officials will remain frozen.
Relations between Brussels and Belarus have been improving since August. Minsk released a number of political prisoners and refused to support Russia in its recognition of the breakaway Georgian regions. The EU is nevertheless disappointed in the autocratic Mr Lukashenko's manipulation of the results of last month's parliamentary elections.
EU ministers also discussed relations with another former Soviet republic, Uzbekistan. Most sanctions against the country's authoritarian regime were lifted, much to the disappointment of the Netherlands.
Source:
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