EU To Extend Sanctions against Representatives of Belarusian Regime

Source: www.charter97.org

The Council of the European Union is to extend sanctions against Belarus, the press-service of the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana informs. ‘Sanctions against representatives of the Belarusian regime are to be extended’, a representative of Solana’s press-service told on Monday. As said by her, an official decision is to be adopted by the EU Council before the end of March.

’As for statements in a number of mass media, that the EU is allegedly ready to unfreeze relations with Belarusian government, such conclusions could have been made after a recent visit of a group of European diplomats to Minsk’, the EU representative said.

She underlined that the EU position remains the same. The EU’s motive for curtailing relations with the official Minsk were authoritarian tendencies of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s regime, crack down on opposition rights and violations of human rights in the country.

The EU hasn’t recognized the results of the presidential election in Belarus in March 2006, which fell short of international democratic norms.

In April 2006 the EU banned entry to its territory for Aliaksandr Lukashenka and 30 Belarusian officials. In May 2006 the EU extended the sanctions against Belarusian leadership, freezing all accounts in European banks of Belarusian president and 35 more officials. In September 2006 the EU Council expanded the list of unwelcome officials adding four more Belarusian officials.