EP resolution on Belarus postponed until March

If Europe wants to solve the democracy problem in Belarus, it should approach the matter from a wider perspective than just repressions against the Polish ethnic minatory.

The EP resolution relating to persecution of the Polish minority in Belarus won’t be adopted on Wednesday, as planned, but will ne considered at the parliamentary session in March. As MEPs failed to reach an agreement on the issue, Jerzy Buzek proposed to postpone voting.

Socialist and Communist groups blocked the motion. They said the Parliament would first get results of the parliamentary mission to Belarus, Polskie Radio reports.

Jerzy Buzek held a press conference for Polish media on February 23. Speaking about the situation over the Union of Poles in Belarus, the politician noted:

“To Poland, the Polish community in Belarus is of greatest importance. But if we want to solve the problem we should approach the matter from a wider perspective. We need to talk about the threats to democracy and democratic liberties for all the independent organizations. The prisons are full again in Belarus and this does not only include short-term arrests of the representatives of the Polish minority but regular imprisonment of activists of the Belarusian opposition.”

Jerzy Buzek also had meetings with leader of the Union of Poles in Belarus Andzelika Borys and head of the For Freedom movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich on February 23, Radio Svaboda reminds.

Alyaksandr Milinkevich said summarizing the results of the meeting:

“It was a very warn meeting. We have excellent understanding between us. Jerzy Buzek is a famous person of the Polish Solidarity movement. He understands what the authoritarian authorities are and what methods of struggling against democratic society this regime may apply. We spoke that we shouldn’t allow carrying out isolation policy towards Belarus and shouldn’t promote self-isolation of the country. We spoke about possible instruments of promotion liberalization in Belarus. I meant economic instruments, the EU’s aid first of all. I think the European Union wil look for new leverages over the democracy situation in Belarus,” the politician said.

To a question whether sanctions on the Belarusian authorities were discussed, Milinkevich answered:

“We need to speak not about sanctions but about dosed support. Support cannot be provided without conditions. The support we have, loans and investments, should depend on how Belarus moves to democratic standards. This question will be studied.”

Jerzy Buzek noted that Belarus is a European country. He hopes the EU delegation arriving in Minsk on February 25 will give an objective picture of the events in Belarus. It is planned that the European Parliament will adopt the resolution after the visit.