BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/05/2006

Lukashenko threates to sue EU

MINSK, Belarus, May 23 (UPI) -- Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the government to prepare for legal action against an EU decision to ban the entry of some state officials.

"The Ministry of Justice should prepare a legal action to be filed with relevant international courts and the European Court of Human Rights. Who has the right to restrict your travel...?" he was quoted as saying to lawmakers by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.

Lukashenko said the decision to restrict the entry of 36 Belarussian officials is "disadvantageous to the EU."

He denounced the refusal of U.S. and Canadian authorities to allow the Belarussian prime minister's plane to refuel last month during a flight over the two countries to Cuba, adding that Western overflights of his country could be banned.

The former Soviet republic faces a raft of international sanctions due to its poor human rights and democratic record.

On May 15, the United States barred Belarus government officials from visiting the country. In March, the European Union tightened traveled restrictions on state officials.

Source:

http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20060523-033552-9664r