Milinkevich on 'black list' shortening: This is an absolutely correct step

The leader of the Movement For Freedom thinks that the changes in the EU 'black list' is a positive sign. Alyaksandr Milinkevich says that the list of travel banned should be dynamic.

Milinkevich: "This is an absolutely correct step. The list of travel banned should be dynamic, flexible, not set once and forever. Someone would appear and disappear from it, but the list will stay there until there are political prisoners in the country. Europe will not betray its principles."

Alongside with that, Alyaksandr Milinkevich feels skeptical about a possibility of rapid development of relations between Minsk and Brussels after shortening of the 'black list'. The politician thinks the Belarusian authorities don't need this until they have Moscow's support.

Milinkevich: "I think this is a signal from Brussels. Diplomacy is a policy of small steps. Brussels demonstrates its readiness for changes. However, Minsk possesses the ball now, and Minsk is not ready for changes. Political prisoners must be released. No other game can mend the relations between Belarus and the EU. The other side is that Minsk is not interested in development of relations with Europe while it has Moscow's support."

The day before it became known that the European Union had prolonged the sanctions against the Belarusian officials for a year. The Council of the EU took the corresponding decision on October 29.

Belarusian MFA: EU's decision is counter-productive, but has a positive side
 

EU official journal publishes updated variant of Belarusian 'black list'
 

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