BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29.07.2005

EU calls on Belarus to respect minority rights

The European Union has expressed deep concern about a raid of Belarus special forces on the headquarters of the Association of Poles. A spokesman for the executive European Commission said: 'This new episode takes place in the context of a growing repression of political parties and non-governmental organizations and also independent media in Belarus' .EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also expressed his concern about the developments in Belarus in a telephone call to the ambassador of Belarus in Brussels.

Polish foreign minister Adam Rotfeld asked the European Union for help but according to unofficial sources, unless tensions between Warsaw and Minsk escalate further, the EU would take no action for the time being because of the holiday season and because some Western states such as France are against giving the issue a priority.

Warsaw yesterday temporarily recalled its ambassador from Minsk, rejected president Lukaszenko;s accusations that Poland was meddling in his country's affairs. The Foreign Ministry in Minsk said that Belarus will not recall its ambassador from Warsaw and described the Polish move as evidence of the lack of intention to seek ways out of the crisis and work on neighbourly relations.

Earlier this week, Lukaszenko accused the West, in particular the United States, os spearheading a revolution in Belarus with the help of Poland and two other neighbours, Lithuania and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a group of Poles, members of the Association of Poles in Belarus, continue to picket the headquarters of the organization in Grodno, in protest against the removal of chairwoman Andzelika Boris from her post and repressive measures by the Byelorussian authorities. Byelorussian militia is in and around the building. p> Source:

http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=25635&j=2