Belarus, EU to hold next talks in Minsk
The Council of Foreign Ministers of EU member states on March 16 will discuss the progress of Belarus. Belarusian Foreign Minister Siarhei Martynau visited Brussles to attend the meeting of the EU troika compising Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations, Helga Schmidt, Head of Political Section at the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Foreign Minister. During the meeting, the representatives of European structures called on the authorities in Belarus to continue efforts aimed at the democratization of the country.
David Stulik, the coordinator of the media programs at the European Commission's Representative Office in Ukraine, revealed some details of the meeting to the European Radio for Belarus.
ERB: Have any preliminary agreements been reached?
David Stulik: No, we don't have any agreements. The main goal is to evaluate the progress achieved by Belarus on the road towards democratization and respect of human rights. In April when the progress after six months -- the period when some sanctions are suspended -- will be evaluated and certain results can be summed up.
ERB: What are the next steps from the both sides after the talks in Brussels?
David Stulik: The dialogue will be continued after this meeting. The next meetings are planned to take place in Minsk. The European Union will continue monitoring and evaluating the progress I have already talked about. The evaluation will be focused on five key issues that the European Union submitted to Belarus in November 2008. Firstly, Belarus must remain a country without political prisoners. Secondly, steps should be made to guarantee the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media. Thirdly, Belarus should cooperate with OSCE over the improvement of electoral laws. Fourthly, the conditions for the operation of NGOs should be improved. Finally, the freedom of assembly should be guaranteed. We have been evaluating. That was exactly the purpose of the meeting with the troika of the European Union. The European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers on March 16 will discuss the progress made by Belarus in the field of these five key issues.
David Stulik, the coordinator of the media programs at the European Commission's Representative Office in Ukraine, revealed some details of the meeting to the European Radio for Belarus.
ERB: Have any preliminary agreements been reached?
David Stulik: No, we don't have any agreements. The main goal is to evaluate the progress achieved by Belarus on the road towards democratization and respect of human rights. In April when the progress after six months -- the period when some sanctions are suspended -- will be evaluated and certain results can be summed up.
ERB: What are the next steps from the both sides after the talks in Brussels?
David Stulik: The dialogue will be continued after this meeting. The next meetings are planned to take place in Minsk. The European Union will continue monitoring and evaluating the progress I have already talked about. The evaluation will be focused on five key issues that the European Union submitted to Belarus in November 2008. Firstly, Belarus must remain a country without political prisoners. Secondly, steps should be made to guarantee the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media. Thirdly, Belarus should cooperate with OSCE over the improvement of electoral laws. Fourthly, the conditions for the operation of NGOs should be improved. Finally, the freedom of assembly should be guaranteed. We have been evaluating. That was exactly the purpose of the meeting with the troika of the European Union. The European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers on March 16 will discuss the progress made by Belarus in the field of these five key issues.
