BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/11/2005 20:35

EU Threatens Belarus With Sanctions

MosNews

European Union foreign ministers have threatened to freeze bank accounts and deny travel rights for Belarus' ruling political elite if President Alexander Lukashenko does not allow next year's presidential election to be free and fair, Associated Press reported.

"In the event of failure to uphold international standards, the draft conclusions make it clear that measures such as asset freezes or visa bans could be taken against those responsible," said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who chaired the EU meeting on Monday.

The draft was later adopted by ministers from the 25 EU nations, stating their "readiness to take further appropriate restrictive measures" against individuals responsible for election abuses.

Belarussian election officials last week refused to register opposition presidential candidate Zyanon Paznyak, saying his 10 years of living in self-imposed exile in Poland disqualified him.

The EU joint statement calls on Lukashenko's government to stop pressing opposition parties, NGOs and mass media, and to let the forthcoming elections meet the standards of the UN and the OSCE.

Source:

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=15042