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Last Updated: Oct 13, 2008 - 8:15:38 AM |
The EU's 27 foreign ministers will hold talks with their Belarus
counterpart, Sergei Martynov, in Luxembourg, the first high-level
contact with Belarus since the EU put a ban on such meetings in 2004.
Finland and Poland are leading a push within the EU to ease sanctions
against Minsk after Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko eased
restrictions on opposition leaders and groups.
The EU ministers are also considering a plan to suspend visa bans
slapped on a number of Belarus officials if Lukashenko moves to
implement democratic reforms, including the scrapping of a restrictive
media law.
An assets freeze on the officials, including Lukashenko, is expected to
stay in place, however. The EU imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and top
Belarus officials following several crackdowns against the opposition
since 1999.
Lukashenko has recently signaled his intention to improve ties with the
West at a time when he is arguing with Russia over energy prices.
Belarussian authorities released detained opposition figures after
Western governments demanded they be freed. Belarus' government also
allowed opposition candidates to take part in Sept. 28 parliamentary
elections, even though none of the 70 opposition candidates won places
in the 110-seat parliament and European observers concluded the
elections fell short of international standards.
Source:Ocnus.net 2008
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