Javier Solana sending EU mission to Belarus (updated)

The European Union will send a mission to Belarus in the nearest time “for developing of political and economic relations”.

Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, said at a joint press conference with Belarusian foreign ministers Syarhei Martynau.

A mission will travel to Minsk in the nearest weeks to estimate how we can develop political and economic relations with Belarus, he said.

“Belarus is ready to develop productive relations with the EU. We are ready to work in this direction,“ ITAR TASS quotes Martynau.

The EU Council, at the level of ministers, partially lifted sanctions on Belarus to encourage “genuine progress towards respect for human rights in that country.“ . A reason for this was release of Belarusian oppositionists from prisons in August.

The EU lifted visa bans on 36 Belarusian officials, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka. At the same time 5 more Belarusian officials, considered by the EU to be responsible for disappearance of Belarusian opposition leaders, remain on the black list. The EU Council noted that visa bans are just suspended for 6 months. If Europe finds the situation in Belarus hasn’t improved after this term, bans may be restored. Besides, a decision on freezing financial account of Belarusian officials in European banks is still active.

As a statement, adopted on the results of the session of EU foreign ministers on October 13 in Luxemburg, says, EU foreign ministers hope “for gradual re-engagement with Belarus” and are ready “to develop a dialogue with the Belarusian authorities, as with all those

participating in the democratic debate.” The aim of the EU is “encouraging genuine progress

towards strengthening democracy and respect for human rights in that country.”

The European Union may review the sanctions, slapped on the Belarusian authorities, depending on progress in the sphere of reforming electoral laws and democratisation. The EU foreign ministers think that Belarus needs to bring the Electoral Code ”into line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections” and take “other concrete actions to respect democratic values, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression and of the media, and the freedom of assembly and political association.”

The ministers said it was possible to decide to “apply travel restrictions sooner if necessary, in the light of the actions of the Belarusian authorities in the sphere of democracy and human rights.”

The statement also notes that that despite some improvements, the parliamentary elections held on in 2008 in Belarus failed to meet the democratic criteria of the OSCE. At the same time it again welcomes the release of the last internationally recognised political prisoners before the elections. The Council also notes that the opposition was able to demonstrate peacefully on the evening of the elections.

The ministries of the EU countries called on the Belarusian authorities to remedy the shortcomings observed and to “cooperate fully to that end with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.”

The statement expresses the support of the intensification of technical cooperation initiated by the Commission with Belarus in areas of mutual interest. “The European Union will continue to provide assistance for Belarusian civil society in order to promote the development of a democratic and pluralist environment.”