EU leaders likely to approve participation of Belarus in Eastern Partnership, EP president says

The leaders of the European Union member countries are likely to approve the participation of Belarus in the 27-member bloc’s Eastern Partnership program, Russia’s RIA Novosti quoted Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the European Parliament, as saying on Thursday ahead of a session of the European Council in Brussels.

The level of Belarus’ participation is on the agenda of the two-day summit.

Mr. Poettering expressed confidence that Belarus would be included into the Eastern Partnership.

The Eastern Partnership, originally proposed by Poland and Sweden in May last year, is aimed at strengthening the EU`s ties with Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and, possibly, Belarus. The EU has repeatedly said that the level of Belarus’ possible participation will depend on the country’s progress toward democratic reform.

Earlier this week, Mr. Poettering welcomed the decision of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to prolong the suspension of the visa ban against Alyaksandr Lukashenka and other Belarusian officials by another nine months.

"The first six months of the new policy toward Belarus have given us mixed results,” he said. “However, at this point in time I express the hope that in the coming months visible progress in the field of human rights, freedom of speech and political freedom will take place. With all those reservations in mind, I welcome the decision of the foreign ministers.”

“I consider the additional nine months of suspension of the visa ban as an opportunity for the authorities in Minsk to convince us of their genuine will to make serious, and not just cosmetic, changes in the field of human rights and political freedom,” he said. //BelaPAN