BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/11/2006

Belarussians will benefit from change, says EU

Source ::: REUTERS

BRUSSELS The European Union, in a fresh broadside against Moscow-backed President Alexander Lukashenko, told Belarussians yesterday they would enjoy great economic and other benefits if their country pursued democratic reform.

Lukashenko is accused by the West of fixing the results of last March?s elections, human rights abuses and muzzling the media. EU states have slapped sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on top Belarussian officials as a result.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said an information campaign targeting Belarussians through Internet, non-government bodies and EU-backed regional media was aimed at complementing the pressure exerted by the sanctions.

"This is a parallel strategy ... We are not changing our policy of sanctions. We want to address the population directly and get our message across,? she said.

"We have backed no single party, we are working in favour of a mature population that can choose,? she told reporters, insisting the move was not aimed specifically at whipping up opposition to Lukashenko ahead of January local elections.

The move comes days before an EU-Russia summit in Helsinki. The EU?s policy of reaching out to ex-Soviet eastern European states is an irritant in its relationship with Moscow, which wants them to remain within its influence.

The European Commission campaign, which has been translated into Russian and Belarussian, lists the advantages for Belarus of a special EU relationship on the same lines as that enjoyed by other eastern countries such as Ukraine or Georgia.

Source:

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Rest+of+the+World&month=November2006&file=World_News2006112272314.xml