BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Tuesday 8 November 2005

EU raises spectre of sanctions against Belarus

In Short:

Visa bans and asset freezes are among the sanctions the EU may introduce against Belarus in an effort to promote greater openness to democracy in the former Soviet republic.

Brief News:

Following an hour-long debate among the EU-25 foreign ministers on 7 November, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that "we want to see free and fair presidential elections" in Belarus in 2006, "and in the event of failure to uphold international standards [...] measures such as asset freezes or visa bans could be taken against those responsible". The measures would be aimed at officials only and not the Belarussian people, he said. The ministers expressed "deep concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights and political freedoms in Belarus".

At the same time, the Council confirmed its commitment to work through a "range of channels to support Belarusian civil society".

Belarus will hold presidential elections some time in 2006, and President Alexander Lukashenka is expected to run for a third term in office. The EU wants the elections to be free and fair, open to all eligible candidates.

Meanwhile, the Commission is working to re-channel its TACIS funds to Belarus in order to minimise the Lukashenka regime's say in how the EU aid is spent.

Source:

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-147166-16&type=News