BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/12/2007

Belarusian Oppositionist Urges EU, U.S. To Speak To Minsk In 'One Voice'

Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party (AHP), said on December 4 in Washington that the European Commission and the U.S. State Department should resume sending joint delegations to Belarus, Belapan reported. "It is better to speak to Minsk in one voice, having a single stance," Lyabedzka said during a hearing at the U.S. Congress on the situation in Belarus. He proposed holding a conference on the situation in Belarus bringing together Belarusian government officials and opposition politicians with representatives of the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and their parliamentary organizations. "The condition for holding this conference initiated by the European Union is the [Belarusian authorities'] release of political prisoners," Lyabedzka said, adding that such a conference would clearly indicate whether the Belarusian government is ready for reform. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/12/3-cee/cee-061207.asp