Maja Kocijancic: Makei remains on EU visa ban list

The EU Council has not made decisions on lifting sanctions from the Belarusian foreign minister.

This statement was made in Brussels by Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, BelaPAN news agency reports.

The spokesperson said that minister Makei was on the list and the Council hadn’t made any decisions regarding the visa ban and his bank accounts. She added the list was discussed and reconsidered regularly.

The remark was made to comment on the information about a possible discussion of Makei’s status by the EU foreign ministers on Monday, June 24.

The Belarusian issue was not on the agenda, but as Vice President of the European Parliament Jacek Protasiewicz said earlier, it was possible that the suspension of the EU travel ban on the Belarusian foreign minister would be discussed at a meeting in Luxemburg. According to Protasiewicz, the relative decision had already been prepared, but it didn’t mean it would be taken automatically. Even one vote against would be enough to block the decision, he stressed.

Journalists learnt from Lithuanian vice foreign minister Andrius Krivas on June 11 that visa sanctions on the Belarusian MFA chief could be suspended in June. According to Krivas, the suspension of the ban would be temporary and would be regularly reviewed.

“A discussion in the EU is taking place and the EU member states are getting closer to an agreement on the suspension of the EU sanctions on Makei to maintain communication channels with the Belarusian authorities. The restrictions can be suspended for the period of his staying on the post of foreign minister. It’s important to emphasise that if the EU members reach an agreement, restrictions on Makei will be suspended and not lifted,” the Lithuanian official said.