Belarusian MFA accuses EU of inertia in its approaches

The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave its evaluation of the extension of sanctions against the Belarusian officials and prolongation of moratorium on them.

“It’s a regret that the Council of the European Union failed to overcome the inertia of sanction thinking,” MFA spokesperson Andrei Savinykh told Interfax-Zapad news agency.

He reminded that Belarus “has repeatedly stressed the policy of restrictions is inefficient”.

At the same time the MFA spokesperson said that Belarus welcomed “the intentions to continue development of the cooperation with Belarus including the high-level political dialogue”. “Belarus also seeks extension of the dialogue with the EU and its member states based on mutual respect and equal rights,” Savinykh stressed.

The EU Council took a decision on Monday to extend visa bans against the Belarusian officials, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka, until October 31, 2011. At the same time sanctions against 36 out of 41 officials will be suspended for one year.

The visa restrictions for former interior minister Uladzimir Navumau, special aide to the president of Belarus Viktar Sheiman, former interior minister Yury Sivakou, former commander of special task brigade of the interior troops Dzmitry Paulichenka and head of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna remain in force.