Štefan Füle: We are taking time-out on joint interim plan for Belarus
It is important to respond to the Belarusian authorities quickly and proportionally, and at the same time not to isolate the Belarusian citizens.
Effective channels of support of non-governmental organizations, media and expelled students should work, stated the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle has declared the European commission's view of the situation at the hearings on Belarus, organized by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Štefan Füle: "As for the joint interim plan which has been prepared by the European Commission for Belarus, we are taking a time-out for the near future, but do not totally abolish it. We need to conduct consultations with the civil society to edit it in some way. It is necessary that the citizens of Belarus should know the whole scope of the EU's offers to Belarus".
It is important to respond to the Belarusian authorities quickly and proportionally, and at the same time not to isolate the Belarusian citizens. Effective channels of support of non-governmental organizations, media and expelled students should work, stated Štefan Füle. He does not exclude resume of visa sanctions against Lukashenka and other officials at the nearest session of the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU countries.
According to the Commissioner, the events of December 19 and afterwards became a real shock. "It is difficult to believe that dozens of citizens, including some presidential candidates, are facing up to 15 years of imprisonment upon the presented accusations", said Štefan Füle. The Commissioner is convinced the EU should react very quickly. Štefan Füle informed that the European Union expected immediate release of political prisoners and ceasing of harassment of the democratic forces at his meeting with the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, added the European official.
Štefan Füle: "As for the joint interim plan which has been prepared by the European Commission for Belarus, we are taking a time-out for the near future, but do not totally abolish it. We need to conduct consultations with the civil society to edit it in some way. It is necessary that the citizens of Belarus should know the whole scope of the EU's offers to Belarus".
It is important to respond to the Belarusian authorities quickly and proportionally, and at the same time not to isolate the Belarusian citizens. Effective channels of support of non-governmental organizations, media and expelled students should work, stated Štefan Füle. He does not exclude resume of visa sanctions against Lukashenka and other officials at the nearest session of the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU countries.
According to the Commissioner, the events of December 19 and afterwards became a real shock. "It is difficult to believe that dozens of citizens, including some presidential candidates, are facing up to 15 years of imprisonment upon the presented accusations", said Štefan Füle. The Commissioner is convinced the EU should react very quickly. Štefan Füle informed that the European Union expected immediate release of political prisoners and ceasing of harassment of the democratic forces at his meeting with the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, added the European official.
