Belarusian Foreign Ministry charged European Union with “inadequacy”

Belarusian Foreign ministry’s spokesperson Andrei Papou has stated that the European Union does not adequately respond steps of the Belarusian side.

In this way the spokesperson has commented the information that the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry won’t participate in the session of the EU heads of foreign ministries.

“Belarus hadn’t addressed anybody with any requests concerning invitation to the EU meetings. It is a matter of entirely internal procedure of the EU itself,” A. Papou emphasized.

The press-secretary has underlined that an invitation to the meeting or its absence is important, but “clearly pronounced desire of the both sides to make concrete steps to meet each other”.

“The Belarusian side has made such a step towards concerns of the EU. It is well-known. And our European colleagues seem to have certain problems with an adequate response,” A. Papou noted.

Nevertheless, the spokesperson of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Belarusian side “we reiterate our readiness for the dialogue with the EU and believe that fuss by any of the sides would not contribute to this dialogue”.

As we have informed, on Wednesday Maxime Verhagen, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, demanded to deprive the head of Belarusian Foreign Ministry Syarhei Martynau a Schengen visa, and France states that the official hadn’t been invited to Brussels.

In case of approval of this initiative by the parliament of the country, Martynau would ne unable to travel to Brussels where the headquarters of the EU is situated, as the government of the Netherlands would defend its position among other EU members.

As said by Mr. Verhagen, to lift all international sanctions against Belarus is too early, as this country “does not respect human rights still”. However, Mr. Verhagen has underlined that recognition of the recent positive changes in Belarus, for instance, release of political prisoners, is an important and necessary measure, German agency DPA informs.

Besides, on Wednesday it was reported that Syarhei Martynau hadn’t been invited to the EU “Troika” meeting in Brussels on Spetember 15 held in the framework of a regular meeting of the 27 EU member countries’ Foreign Ministers.