BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/12/2005

EU criticizes anti-protest bill in Belarus<

The European Union has expressed its concern about developments in Belarus after the parliament in Minsk passed a draft bill Friday aimed to stop mass anti-government protests.

"The provisions of the bill seem to go entirely against many of Belarus' human rights commitments, notably the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression," said the EU Presidency in a statement.

The EU urged the Belarusian National Assembly to reconsider their decision and to reject the draft legislation.

"Adopting such undemocratic legislation could incur serious consequences for Belarusian authorities," warned the 25-member bloc of which UK holds the current EU Presidency.

Belarus will hold presidential elections in 2006, when President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has been in power for 11 years, intends to stand for re-election.

Source:

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-239/0512035045172614.htm