Another “last chance” for another dialogue?

Belarusian opposition politicians held a meeting with Polish Foreign Minister and EU Commissioner in Warsaw.

“We talked today that it is not late for the Belarusian authorities and Lukashenka to start a dialogue with Europe today to remain in the Belarusian history not a dictator but a dignified person,” Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu said at a press conference following the meeting of Belarusian oppositionists with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and Štefan Füle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Belsat TV informs.

Belarus was represented by politicians Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Vital Rymaheuski, Syarhei Kalyakin, Leu Marholin, and Alyaksandr Milinkevich. A number of Belarusian opposition parties and movements signed an agreement yesterday on conditions of holding free elections. The opposition leaders announced formation of the platform for their joint work.

Radoslaw Sikorski and Štefan Füle said they welcomed the attempts of consolidation taken by the opposition. “Europe is ready to support Belarus on its way to democratization. But the initial condition for the dialogue is the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, and then talks about complete democratization of Belarus,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski emphasized. “Let us think now how democratic Belarus could start modernizing reforms so that the future democratic republic can have tighter relations with Europe.”

According to presidential candidate Vital Rymasheuski, Europe takes a tough stance on relations with official Minsk.

“No one is going to play in the games the Belarusian authorities had offered until December 19. We agreed to coordinate our positions. We were promised that no talks with the authorities are possible until political prisoners are released,” the politician said.

“The key result of the meeting was that the European Commission and the Polish MFA, the country that takes over the EU’s presidency tomorrow, are interested in coordinating their steps with the opposition. They highly appreciated the agreement between different opposition political forces reached yesterday.

The Belarusian problem is acute for the European policy. It is also proved by the fact that the Belarusian issue will be one of the main topics at tomorrow’s Vilnius conference of European foreign ministries,” deputy head of the United Civil Party Leu Marholin said.