Anatol Lyabedzka: “Those who order to disperse actions must be forbidden entry into EU”

The opposition thinks Belarusian officials do not deserve the right to visit the EU.

On November 17, the EU Council made a decision to extend visa restrictions on official Minsk until October 2010. However, the sanctions are frozen until October.

The Belarusian time were given time to reform the electoral legislation; secure freedom of association; create conditions for activity of non-governmental organizations; guarantee freedom of press; lift restrictions from personal liberty.

Leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka says the decision of the EU Council was predictable. He told this in an interview to charter97.org.

“The conclusion was predicable. I think it was 95% consensus for the democratic community. Everybody admits there was no progress in Belarus. But the European Union seems not to have enough arguments to shut the door to Belarus. It is a kind of consensus between democratic values and European pragmatism,” the politician thinks.

Anatol Lyabedzka notes that the further fate of sanctions depends on a position of Brussels on the Belarusian authorities.

“If this decision means a home task for the Belarusian authorities, it is optimal,” the UCP leader says. “Now, everything depends on EU further strategy, which must be clear. We could notice that the EU states didn’t have the common strategy. It could be seen in absolutely different rhetoric of foreign ministers of Italy and Latvia, who visited Belarus. The Belarusian authorities saw that the European Union didn’t have the common position on the Belarusian issue and afforded not to fulfil any conditions. The EU should prove it is based on moral values. a common strategy of Brussels and Washington would be an ideal variant.”

The UCP leader notes that Belarusian officials haven’t deserved to visit the EU countries.

“I stand for smart sanctions, I think they were really effective. Our rather well off officials worry they can’t g to Cote d'-Azur. But no progress is noticed in Belarus now .the officials, who give brutal orders to disperse peaceful actions and judge oppositionists, deserve to stay at their place of residence,” the politician said.