[ad_1]
Belarus has been plagued by unprecedented demonstrations against President Aliaksandr Lukashenko since the disputed elections on August 9. The protests are brutally repressed by the regime.
“She told us about the events in Belarus,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after a breakfast with Chichanouskaya and ministers this morning.
“We were very impressed by the courage and perseverance of the Belarusian people, especially the Belarusian women, who are showing a true sense of leadership,” he said. “Let me emphasize that we will support an inclusive national dialogue on the right of the Belarusian people to free and fair elections.”
VIDEO: More than 200 people were arrested in protests in Belarusian streets on Sunday.
Mr. Borrell reiterated that Brussels did not recognize Mr. Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.
The EU and other Western powers reject the results of the presidential elections in Belarus, saying the elections were not free and fair. Brussels is due to announce sanctions against some members of the Lukashenko regime, including an asset freeze and a travel ban.
“We have to conclude that nothing has improved in recent weeks. The violence used by Lukashenko against the peaceful protesters is completely unacceptable, “said Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister who currently holds the EU presidency.
“We must also address the question of whether Mr.” Lukashenko, who is primarily responsible, should also not be sanctioned by the European Union, “he said.
After a joint breakfast, the ministers began formal talks on Belarus. They will also discuss the situation in Libya, the tensions in relations with Turkey.
Officials said the ministers would discuss whether to call new elections in Belarus and warned that the situation was deteriorating rapidly.
“Now we are seeing a clear deterioration: there is more repression, more people arrested, more people expelled abroad. [žmonių]”Said an official.
The ministers will also discuss what funds could be allocated to civil society in Belarus, and Poland will ask for 1 billion euros. a stabilization fund to help the country.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki issued such an appeal after Russian President Vladimir Putin backed Lukashenko and promised $ 1.5 billion. Loan in USD (1,270 million euros).
Sanctions
Cichanouskaya’s meeting with EU ministers and a subsequent appearance in the European Parliament are part of his efforts to keep international pressure on Lukashenko in power.
He called on the international community to respond “in the strongest terms” to the violation of rights in Belarus in a video statement shown at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday. The Belarusian ambassador interrupted the meeting several times.
The EU has a list of some 40 Belarusian officials responsible for falsifying election results or brutally cracking down on protests.
Final adoption of the sanctions has been postponed, in part due to negotiations between EU members. Diplomats say that Cyprus, in return, requested sanctions against Turkey for a separate dispute.
The EU wants to coordinate its response so that it is not too harsh and Lukashenko is not pushed further into the arms of the Kremlin.
The sanctions plan is likely to be presented to the bloc’s heads of state and government, who are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
The summit will also discuss relations with Turkey following summer tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where Ankara’s disagreements with Greece and Cyprus over energy resources and maritime borders have come to the brink of serious conflict.
Cyprus has stalled discussions on sanctions against Belarus, arguing that Brussels must also take action against Turkey.
Cypriot Foreign Minister Nick Kristodulidis said: “The European Union’s response to human rights abuses, our response to violations of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of EU Member States, our response to any violation of our fundamental values and principles cannot be to the letter. It must be consistent. “
However, the Cypriot minister added that he will implement the EU decisions.
[ad_2]
