BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/11/2006

Belarus Said To Be Ready For 'Consultations' With EU

Natallya Pyatkevich, deputy head of the Belarusian presidential administration, said on television on November 26 that Belarus is ready to begin "consultations" with the European Union, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported on November 27. However, Pyatkevich, who is on an EU travel-ban list, said that the EU's offers last week to promote democracy in Belarus in exchange for some economic benefits (see "RFE/RL Newsline," November 21, 2006) are "purely ideological" and "abstract." "Our message is that as soon as the country indicates a willingness to move toward true democracy, human rights, and rule of law, we will be ready to enter into a full partnership with Belarus within the framework of the ENP [European Neighborhood Policy]. That would mean a significant increase in assistance -- to bring a host of improvements to Belarusians' quality of life," Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU commissioner for external relations and European Neighborhood Policy, said in Brussels on November 21 during the official presentation of the offer for Belarus. "We have not sought a quarrel or an altercation with anybody," Pyatkevich said on November 26. "Belarus is certainly interested in and ready for dialogue with both the European Union and the United States of America and any other country in the world, but on the basis of equality and mutual respect," she added. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/11/3-cee/cee-281106.asp