Martynov has accused the EU in the "deficit of democracy"

Minsk encourages Brussels to draw attention to human rights problems in the EU.

Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov stated about the need of strict compliance to the basic principles of the Eastern Partnership, which exclude discriminatory attitudes, was informed the agency "Interfax-West" in the press service of the Foreign Ministry after a meeting of foreign ministers of member countries of the Eastern Partnership and the EU member states.

"In this regard, one must overcome the democratic deficit within the Eastern Partnership" – quotes the press service the speech of the Foreign Minister of Belarus.

S.Martynov also underlined the need "to see problems with human rights in the EU Member States, especially in the light of recent crisis events".

Recall, on July 23 at the press conference after the meeting of foreign ministers of EU and Eastern Partnership in Brussels, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said the EU is concerned about the lack of respect for human rights, rule of law, democracy, and independent media in Belarus.

"One more time we declared the need for immediate release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners, the cease of all repressions in the country, and free and fair parliamentary elections in September - said Ashton. - Our message to Belarus was very clear and precise: there is no place for political prisoners in the heart of Europe."