During official meetings in Minsk Gunnar Wiegand talked political prisoners

The diplomat emphasized that the issue of political prisoners was not the only problem on the way of Belarus-EU cooperation.

At all meetings with official representatives of Belarus Gunnar Wiegand, the European External Action Service, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE, raised a question on political prisoners release. He stated that to the journalists on November 19, BelaPan informs.

According to Wiegand it came to as no surprise for his partners. “Everybody understands that there are a number of steps that should be practiced in order to use the potential in Belarus-EU cooperation, he said. There are certain steps that may already be implemented, but more intensive cooperation is impossible with no movements in rule of law, democracy and human rights sphere”.

Answering the question on possible warmth in Belarus-EU cooperation in case of political prisoners release and positive movements in democracy sphere, Wiegand stated that “Now we are working on this issue. And it would be better if both sides are ready to cooperate and move towards it”.

At the same time he mentioned relations between Belarus and the EU did not begin and end only with political prisoners but “there are issues that cannot be ignored”.

Commenting on the claims of some representatives of the opposition, as he did not meet them, Wiegand stated: “It is impossible to meet everyone when you are bounded in time”. He emphasized that besides the meetings with Vladzimir Makei, Belarus’ Foreign Minister, and representatives of the Presidential Administration he hold the meeting with the representatives of civil society, relatives of political prisoners and civil rights activists.

According to Wiegand he took a multiple meetings with the leaders of opposition both in Minsk and Brussels. Besides, he met eurocommissars and the heads of diplomatic missions. The last meeting took place about 10 days ago.

On the issue of his visit, Wiegand pointed out that it was” the fourth round of intermediate stage in the dialogue on modernization” and it was conducted by the European Commission both with civil community and Belarusian authorities. During the last meetings the cooperation on reforms in education, regional development and social sphere was discussed. “That was a profitable discussion, said Wiegand. We discussed the possible steps to reform the mentioned spheres and possible the EU assistance. Today we have met to find spheres on cooperation”.