BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Published: 08:28 | : 08:30

EU steps up pressure on Belarus

In Short:

Commission President Barroso wants to send an EU diplomat to monitor human rights in Belarus.

Brief News:

The EU is gradually stepping up pressure on Belarus. In the most recent development on 30 August, Commission President Barroso expressed his worry over clampdowns on NGOs, and said: "We are very concerned with the situation of human rights in Belarus. We are preparing a decision to send a charge d'affaires to Minsk to monitor the situation on the ground".

In a statement from the UK presidency "on Restrictions on technical assistance to Belarus", the EU on 30 August also expressed worry that a decree of 17 August from Belarus president Lukaschenko, that restricts foreign aid, could "lead to increased self-isolation of Belarus and adversely affect the population." The EU gives support to Belarus through the TACIS and CORE programmes.

Earlier this month the Commission decided to give financial support for independent radio broadcasting to Belarus.

Source:

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-143596-16&type=News

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