Kozulin: EU, Russia may begin consultations on Belarus
The representatives of the Belarusian opposition have met with Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal who says that EU foreing ministers will take every effort to give concrete substance to the European Parliament's resolution.
Belarus opposition members Alexander Milinkevich, Alexander Kozulin, Eva Neklyaeva and Denis Sadouski on Tuesday met in the Hague with the Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal.
"This is a continuation of the consultations that we had in other countries. On January 31 the Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU is expected to take concrete measures towards Belarus", Alexander Kozulin told Euroradio.
The priority is to release political prisoners. Therefore, Rosenthal stressed that foreign ministers would take every effort to give concrete substance to European Parliament's resolution.
"The sanctions that were imposed earlier against officials and those involved in election-rigging and beatings, will be restored at a larger scale", notes Kozulin. "Besides, a new election could be suggested, because Lukashenka has no right to be the president of Belarus".
The European Union thus signals that it does not recognize Alexander Lukashenka as a legitimate president, adds Kozulin.
He describes as blackmail by the Belarusian propaganda the statements that tough sanctions will push Belarus closer to Russia.
Kozulin: "There are concerns that if tough measures are taken, they will prevent Belarus from moving towards EU and push it closer to Russia. We gave them examples of the letters from Belarusian ambassadors who bluntly raised this issue. But this is blackmail which diplomatic circles from Belarus have begun to employ. They [in Europe] understand it. There is a feeling that consultations between EU and Russian may begin in order to prevent this blackmail".
Belarus opposition members Alexander Milinkevich, Alexander Kozulin, Eva Neklyaeva and Denis Sadouski on Tuesday met in the Hague with the Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal.
"This is a continuation of the consultations that we had in other countries. On January 31 the Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU is expected to take concrete measures towards Belarus", Alexander Kozulin told Euroradio.
The priority is to release political prisoners. Therefore, Rosenthal stressed that foreign ministers would take every effort to give concrete substance to European Parliament's resolution.
"The sanctions that were imposed earlier against officials and those involved in election-rigging and beatings, will be restored at a larger scale", notes Kozulin. "Besides, a new election could be suggested, because Lukashenka has no right to be the president of Belarus".
The European Union thus signals that it does not recognize Alexander Lukashenka as a legitimate president, adds Kozulin.
He describes as blackmail by the Belarusian propaganda the statements that tough sanctions will push Belarus closer to Russia.
Kozulin: "There are concerns that if tough measures are taken, they will prevent Belarus from moving towards EU and push it closer to Russia. We gave them examples of the letters from Belarusian ambassadors who bluntly raised this issue. But this is blackmail which diplomatic circles from Belarus have begun to employ. They [in Europe] understand it. There is a feeling that consultations between EU and Russian may begin in order to prevent this blackmail".
