BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/06/2006

Belarus Urges EU To Improve Ties

June 15, 2006 -- Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has urged the European Union to "abandon confrontation" and improve ties strained by visa bans.

EU Ambassador Ian Boag said the EU was always prepared to work with Belarus -- but on condition it accepts the 25-nation's values.

While calling for closer ties, Lukashenka said Belarus will "never submit to diktat, whatever its source."

Both the EU and the United States slapped visa bans on Lukashenka and 30 senior officials to denounce what they said was a rigged presidential election that, in March, returned Lukashenka to a third term. The EU accused Lukashenka also of muzzling opponents, closing down media and denying freedom of assembly.

Belarus imposed a reciprocal ban without saying which EU officials it might affect.

(Reuters)

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/6/5050EC6C-00B5-48CF-A701-66AA24225AEB.html

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