BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/11/2006

Belarus Refuses Visas For German Lawmakers, Reporters In Retaliation For EU Ban

The Belarusian government on November 9 denied visas to two German lawmakers and two German reporters planning to attend a three-day German-Belarusian conference that began in Minsk later the same day, Belapan and dpa reported. Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Papou said in Minsk on November 9 that the visa denials were in retaliation for the EU travel ban imposed earlier this year on more than 30 Belarusian officials. "The Belarusian side has to take symmetrical measures in response to restrictions regarding our country on the part of the EU, the U.S., and a number of other states," Papou noted. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/11/3-cee/cee-101106.asp