European Deputies insist on fulfilling 12 conditions of EU by Minsk

The European Parliament has called upon the authorities of Belarus to start democratic reform in the country. It has been said in a declaration adopted on April 17 summing up the results of the conference in the European parliament in Brussels (Belgium), where the post-Chernobyl situation in Belarus was discussed.

The European Parliament has called upon the Belarusian regime to respect democratic values and basic human rights as a response to the EU readiness to restore relations with Belarus in the framework of European Neighborhood policy. In particular, the European parliament has called upon the government of Belarus to follow the 12 recommendations of the EU, including the release of all political prisoners, independence of judicial agencies, respect of democratic values and basic rights of the Belarusians, BelaPAN informs.

“From this point of view we welcome release of a few political prisoners, but at the same time we demand final and unconditional release of Alyaksandr Kazulin, and end to any further politically motivated arrests, intimidation and violence against peaceful demonstrators, representatives of the democratic opposition and civil society,” the declaration stresses.

Its authors welcomed agreement on founding a representation of the European Commission in Minsk, and expressed a hope that it would advance realization of the EU efforts in support of political, economic and social reforms in Belarus, as well as improvement of living conditions of the Belarusians who had been affected by Chernobyl disaster.

The European Parliament has expressed concern regarding the plans of Belarus to build a nuclear power station, and offered the government of the country to provide an ecological evaluation to the ecological influence of the project in proper time, in keeping with international nature protection standards, in order to safeguard security and avoid any tragedy similar to Chernobyl in the future.