Czech EU presidency to decide on inviting Lukashenka to Eastern Partnership summit at last minute

The Czech EU presidency will decide at the last minute whether to invite Alyaksandr Lukashenka to a May 7 summit at which the European Union’s Eastern Partnership program will be launched, Agence France-Presse reported with reference to Alexandr Vondra, Czech deputy prime minister for European affairs, BelaPAN said.

The Czech official emphasized the importance of motivating Belarus to take positive steps.

"Up to now this European policy (vis a vis Belarus) has brought partial results, but we are far from saying the situation there has improved dramatically," Mr. Vondra was quoted as saying.

The Eastern Partnership is designed to boost the European Union's relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

With none of the six countries ready for EU membership, the initiative should act as a bridge to the day when accession talks can begin, according to the Czech deputy prime minister.

Mr. Vondra confirmed that the Eastern Partnership summit would take place in Prague.