Assembly of Pro-Dem NGOs adopts statement on Belarus membership in Eastern Partnership

‘We welcome the European Union’s recent initiative – the Eastern Partnership – and consider it a historical chance for Belarus on its way towards the European values. We are confident that Belarus’ membership in the project should depend on the inner situation in the country. Otherwise, the Eastern Partnership will be a means of conservation of the current situation in Belarus with minor cosmetic changes. In our opinion, the current situation in Belarus restrains Belarus’ activity in the initiative on the political level. The restrictions of political cooperation should not impair other declared project components. The civil society of Belarus is ready to act the agent, who will enable us use the potential of the European Partnership to the full for the sake of positive changes in the country and will prevent the Belarusian authorities from using it for conservation measures. The dialogue should be based on the cooperation of the Belarusian civil society and the authorities with the mediation of the EU bodies,’ says the statement.