BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/03/2010

EU criticises Belarus harassment, warns on ties

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Reuters) - The European Union criticised Belarus on Tuesday for the harassment of government opponents and said closer ties with Minsk would depend on improvements in democratic conditions and human rights.

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton also condemned the reported execution of two convicts in the former Soviet republic this month, saying such signs were "worrisome" in the run-up to April 25 local elections in Belarus.

"The EU urges Belarus to address the concerns regarding the democracy, situation for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country," she said in a statement.

"The European Union ... reiterates that its readiness to further deepen relations with Belarus will depend on concrete steps in Belarus towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law."

Long ostracised in the West for his suppression of dissent, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has sought to reduce the country's economic dependence on Russia and has taken some steps to improve ties with the EU and the United States.

The EU has sought to boost ties with Belarus as a transit country for energy supplies from Russia.

It has a freeze in place on sanctions against Minsk, including a visa ban on Lukashenko, to offer an incentive for it to carry out reforms. But the decision will be reviewed in October and the steps can be reapplied at any time.

Ashton expressed "grave concern" over harassment of independent media, civil society and opposition organisations, including restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, and difficulties with registration of NGOs and opposition parties.

She called for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment in Belarus. Belarussian human rights activists said last Thursday two convicts had been executed this month. The authorities in Minsk have not confirmed the executions.

Masked police raided the offices of two independent media outlets and journalists' homes in mid-March and Poland has urged the EU to put pressure on Belarus to curb a crackdown on minority ethnic Poles.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; editing by Noah Barkin)

Source:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62T19320100330


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