BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/09/2006

EU states reject Belarus sanctions

By Andrew Bounds

Sanctions against Belarus were rejected by European Union states yesterday in a surprise move. The European Commission proposed to expel the authoritarian former Soviet republic from its preferential trade system within six months if it did not guarantee freedom of speech and assembly. The shock decision was taken by trade experts meeting in Brussels. Neighbours of Belarus such as Poland and Lithuania, which have lots of cross-border traders, voted against. Member state ambassadors will discuss the move next month and the Commission is hopeful of backing. Andrew Bounds, Strasbourg

Source:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5aff3ce2-4dc5-11db-8704-0000779e2340.html