Urmas Paet: «Estonia does not support lifting sanctions against Belarusian officials»

During his visit to Minsk the Foreign Minister of Estonia met with Belarusian democrats.

Former chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus, chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada Stanislau Shushkevich, a coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Uladzimir Kobets, United Civil party leader Anatol Lyabedzka, deputy chairman of “For Freedom” movement Viktar Karneenka, co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Paval Sevyarynets and others took part in the meeting.

During the discussion the minister stated that “Estonia does not support lifting pinpoint sanctions from Belarusian officials,” ucpb.org website informs.

“At the same time, we are looking for a balance in order not to close the doors to Europe for Belarus, but at the same time not to take the issue of European values and human rights off the table,” stated Urmas Paet.

We remind that a ceremony of opening Estonian Embassy took place in Minsk yesterday. Until recently only a consulate of this country worked in Belarus, BelaPAN informs.

At the opening ceremony of the diplomatic mission, the head of the Estonian Foreign Ministry Urmas Paet expressed confidence that this step would contribute to stepping up economic relations, increase of contacts between people and development of relations between Belarus and the EU: “I see good prospects for cooperation of Belarus and Estonia, which includes cooperation in the framework of Eastern Partnership program of the EU”.

Harry Lahtein, Estonia's charge d'affaires in Belarus told that Estonia supports facilitation of the procedure of issuing Schengen visas for Belarusian citizens.

“The more Belarusians visit Europe, the more open Belarus would become for Europe, and the more people in Belarus would know more about Europe,” the diplomat underlined. As said by him, as compared to the last year, the number of Schengen visas issued by the Estonian consulate, has grown by 24%.