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Kupchyna asks the EU to lift sanctions

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Kupchyna asks the EU to lift sanctions
Alena Kupchyna

The Belarusian government counts on a lifting of restrictive measures imposed by the EU for repressions against the opposition.

Alena Kupchyna, Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that in the interview to The Slovenia Times. The text was published on the website of the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

"The only apparent negative effect of sanctions is the reduced credibility to the EU as a partner, and missed opportunities for cooperation in resolution of common challenges", the representative of the Foreign Ministry stated.

She also said that Belarus "has been under political and economic pressure of the West for almost 20 years". However, despite various sanctions and restrictions, it takes both the dynamic way of development and the leading position in different spheres among the EU's eastern neighbours.

"We hope the EU will reconsider its policy towards Belarus and facilitate the strengthening of an economic aspect of our independence through access to resources of European financial institutions - such as the EIB (European Investment Bank) and EBRD, support our accession to the WTO", Kupchyna said.

It should be reminded that sanctions against Belarusian government were imposed after cruel dispersion of protest actions against fraud presidential elections in 2010. About a thousand people were arrested, candidates and their staff were among them. There are 6 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus. Besides, civil rights activists and international organizations have repeatedly informed about ongoing repressions against the opposition and independent media in the country.

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