EU Ready to Work with Lukashenko after Release of Opposition

The European Union is ready to reconsider its attitude towards the incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, if the authorities release all the protesters, detained in Minsk on December 19. This was stated by Bundestag Deputy Marie-Louise Beck on December 28, arrived in Minsk to express Germany's position on the current situation in Belarus.

According to her, vision of the EU project "Eastern Partnership" will differ from the current variant if the Belarusian authorities "open the gates of prisons and release all demonstrators," "Ejednevnik" reports.

Marie-Louise Beck stressed that the harsh measures of the EU towards Belarus, depend directly on the actions of the authorities. "I do not know if you can call it bargaining, but a positive decision on the prisoners would be a sign for us that Lukashenko has realized the senselessness of this way, that he leaves the door to the dialogue with the West open. It's not a small thing to release more than 600 people," the deputy of the German Parliament said, stressing that the dialogue will do more good to the Belarusian society than sanctions.

Marie-Louise Beck also believes that the EU should expand the freedom of movement for Belarusians due to the worsening political situation in Belarus, as well as to simplify the visa regime. "The West should not support an authoritarian regime to lock up people. It is impossible to oppose the president's policy, if the decisions do harm to the country's citizens," German deputy said.

Situation in Belarus Needs Discussing within the OSCE Framework, Beck

Marie-Louise Beck notes that the EU will "give a powerful response to the events of the last 10 days in Belarus," but did not call the possible sanctions against the official Minsk. Bundestag deputy believes that the Belarusian issue should be discussed in the framework of the OSCE, as Belarus is a member of this organization, but "pays no attention to its fundamental principles," "Belarusian News" report.

However, the European Union plans to voice an official position on Belarus' participation in the project "Eastern Partnership" at the Council meeting of EU foreign ministers at the end of January 2011. But some European politicians already say that a country with non-observance of human rights can not become a full participant in the project and qualify for the EU financial support.

As part of this visit Marie-Louise Beck had planned to meet with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, but the meeting was canceled at the initiative of the Belarusian side. Nevertheless, the Bundestag deputy intends to meet with representatives of the Belarusian opposition and civil society.

Telegraf.By