BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/04/2009

EU launches rights dialogue with Belarus

(BRUSSELS) - the european union announced monday that it would launch a human rights dialogue with belarus with meetings at least once a year, part of an eu policy to promote democracy and dilute russia's influence.

"the council decides to launch a structured troika human rights dialogue with the republic of belarus," said a statement, endorsed in luxembourg at a meeting of justice and interior ministers.

no date was given for the launch of this dialogue, which will involve belarus representatives and officials from the european commission and the eu council, which represents the 27 member states.

belarus, branded europe's last dictatorship by the united states, has already indicated that it wants to take part in talks on human rights issues, a commission official said.

last month, eu foreign ministers decided not to enforce a travel ban against belarus president alexander lukashenko and other senior officials, hoping to encourage democratic reforms and dilute russian influence over its neighbour.

lukashenko has ruled the ex-soviet republic of 10 million people in an authoritarian fashion since 1994 but has since made attempts at greater openness including by hiring a western pr firm and cautious economic reform.

the shifts in his policies have not been welcomed by minsk's traditional ally moscow, which was surprised in february when belarus criticised a regional security plan.

apart from addressing human rights issues, the dialogue is "to discuss questions of mutual interest", the statement said.

Meanwhile Lukashenko's office announced that he had accepted the resignation of his hardline interior minister Vladimir Naumov, in what was seen as a new gesture by Minsk to improve ties with Europe.

Source:

http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239023822.3

Google
 


Partners:
Face.by Social Network
Face.by