DATE:
12/12/2009
Associated Press
The Belarusian parliament has approved new legislation lowering obstacles for opposition candidates in elections.
The vote Friday followed President Alexander Lukashenko's call to relax strict registration requirements for candidates before local elections next year and a presidential vote in 2011.
Lukashenko last month also suggested allowing candidates self-financing and permitting opposition groups to monitor voting.
The changes appear aimed to please the European Union, which slapped sanctions on Belarus over the government's crackdown on dissent. Lukashenko has been seeking to improve ties with the West without losing the support of neighboring Russia.
He says Belarus is willing to carry out other reforms urged by the EU but needs time to do so.
Source:
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1130788&lang=eng_news
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