European parliament to invite Belarus opposition
The rest of the countries associated with the Eastern Partnership program will be represented by official parliamentarians. Next fall during a new session of the European Parliament, the European Neighborhood East council will start working. It will be attended by 60 MEPs and 60 parliamentarians from the Eastern countries – 10 from each of the candidate nations: three Caucasian republics, Moldova and Ukraine. Since the European Union does not recognize the legitimacy of the Belarusian parliament, representatives of the Belarusian opposition will be invited to attend, Jacek Sariusz-Wolski, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission at the European Parliament, told reporters in Brussels.
He also noted that Belarus still has problems with human rights.
“Belarus, which has a serious deficit democracy and human rights, is the weakest element of these six countries. Today, there are optimistic changes but they are not complete. Unfortunately, the new media law still confronts with the European standards. Besides, instead of jailing opposition leaders, they are drafted into the army”, Sariusz-Wolski said.
He also revealed that in April 2009 a group of MEPs planned to visit Minsk. The European deputies plan to meet Alexander Lukashenka, head of his administration Uladzimir Makei, foreign minister Siarhei Martynau, leader of For Freedom movement Alexander Milinkevich, chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina and other civil society figures.
The planned visit eventually aims to decide the fate of EU sanctions against Belarus officials which were suspended for six months. But Mr Sariusz-Wolski does not believe in the final abolishment of the sanctions.
“We are the least interested in business and economy. We are the most sensitive body in the European Union as regards human rights and democracy. I don’t believe that the sanctions could be lifted completely”, he said.
Besides, the results of the visit are to influence on the decision-making regarding Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership program.
The issue of accepting Belarus into the Eastern Partnership program will be decided by the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The decision must be taken by a majority of the participants of the Summit of the Heads of EU Member States on March 19-20 in Brussels.
He also noted that Belarus still has problems with human rights.
“Belarus, which has a serious deficit democracy and human rights, is the weakest element of these six countries. Today, there are optimistic changes but they are not complete. Unfortunately, the new media law still confronts with the European standards. Besides, instead of jailing opposition leaders, they are drafted into the army”, Sariusz-Wolski said.
He also revealed that in April 2009 a group of MEPs planned to visit Minsk. The European deputies plan to meet Alexander Lukashenka, head of his administration Uladzimir Makei, foreign minister Siarhei Martynau, leader of For Freedom movement Alexander Milinkevich, chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina and other civil society figures.
The planned visit eventually aims to decide the fate of EU sanctions against Belarus officials which were suspended for six months. But Mr Sariusz-Wolski does not believe in the final abolishment of the sanctions.
“We are the least interested in business and economy. We are the most sensitive body in the European Union as regards human rights and democracy. I don’t believe that the sanctions could be lifted completely”, he said.
Besides, the results of the visit are to influence on the decision-making regarding Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership program.
The issue of accepting Belarus into the Eastern Partnership program will be decided by the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The decision must be taken by a majority of the participants of the Summit of the Heads of EU Member States on March 19-20 in Brussels.
