Sources from EU: Martynau urgently leaving for Brussels

The visit is initiated by Belarus; Ashton agrees to accept him.

The Belarusian minister of foreign affairs Syarhei Martynau is to arrive in Brussels on Monday to hold a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, PAP, a Polish news agency, learnt Friday from diplomatic sources in Brussels.

“Martynau is likely to visit Brussels,” a source from the European Commission told PAP. According to diplomats, the visit was initiated by the Belarusian party. Martynau is expected to meet with Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, and, probably, with Štefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy.

Füle is said to have had a telephone conversation with Martynau this week, “Nasha Niva” newspaper runs.

Minsk is obviously concerned about EU’s intention to restore a travel ban against the regime and possibly to impose economic sanctions. Such a reaction was caused by presidential election on December 19 and the post-election brutality.

An outrageous provocation was staged at a rally. Opposition presidential candidates were beaten and arrested; up to 700 people got detained. Dozens of pro-opposition citizens were fired. The actions were accompanied by a Göbbels-like propaganda campaign of the official media.

The events provoked a stormy reaction of the European community urging EU governments to take urgent measures to protect human rights in the country, which borders with three EU states.