BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/06/2009

EU official reaches out to Belarus

By YURAS KARMANAU

Associated Press

A European Union official met Monday with Belarus' president and offered broad cooperation at a time of tense relations with Russia.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told President Alexander Lukashenko that "the EU has a lot to offer Belarus in a wide range of areas of mutual interest."

Lukashenko welcomed her visit and said Belarus "sincerely wants to build good relations" with the EU, "no matter whom that displeases." This was a nod to Russia's efforts to exert influence and control over Belarus and its economy, which is heavily dependent on cheap supplies of Russian oil and gas.

A Russian ban on Belarusian dairy products was lifted last week, but a potentially more troubling conflict is looming. Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly said Belarus owes more than $200 million and has demanded payment this week.

Lukashenko suggested that Belarus was hoping to receive new technology and economic assistance from the EU.

"You have financial resources _ credit, financing _ which for us is also extremely important," he said.

Belarus is desperate for cash as the global financial crisis has drained its hard-currency reserves. Russia agreed to lend Belarus $2 billion, but the transfer of the final $500 installment has been held up indefinitely.

The EU this year formed a so-called "Eastern Partnership" with Belarus and five other former Soviet republics, offering closer economic and political ties in exchange for a commitment to democracy.

Belarus _ known as "the last dictatorship in Europe" _ was invited to join after it freed all political prisoners, allowed the opposition to participate in elections and allowed two independent newspapers to operate.

"Belarus has taken steps in the right direction and we have recognized that," Ferrero-Waldner said.

"If our relations are to deepen, we will need to see further moves to develop democratic freedoms, for example the possibility for civil society to work and hold meetings without fear of harassment or arrest," she added.

The EU commissioner also met with opposition leaders, who have pushed for closer ties with Europe.

"Europe is giving Belarus a chance to enter European civilization and now it up to Belarus to decide whether to use this opportunity," said opposition leader Anatoly Lebedko.

Source:

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=983559&lang=eng_news

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