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E.U. Continues to Reach out to BelarusEXCERPTS from the International Herald Tribune, Monday, March 16, 2009BRUSSELS: European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to continue reaching out to Belarus, one of Moscow's closest allies, by suspending for a further nine months a travel ban on the country's president, Aleksandr Lukashenka, despite worries about his human rights record. The decision paves the way for Belarus to play a part in a new aid and trade partnership between the European Union and a group of eastern countries seen as falling within Russia's sphere of influence. Concerned about Moscow's political and economic hold over key energy transit countries on its doorstep, Europe is seeking to offer these nations the chance of closer ties to the E.U. within a new grouping called the Eastern Partnership. On Monday, E.U. foreign ministers prolonged for nine months the suspension of the visa ban, saying they aimed "to encourage the adoption and implementation of further concrete measures toward democracy and respect to human rights." But as a precaution they also extended the original political sanctions for 12 months, which means they could be reimposed when the nine-month suspension expires. E.U. foreign ministers also left themselves the option of taking a tougher line if Belarus bows to pressure from Russia to give diplomatic recognition to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which declared independence from Georgia following the military conflict there last year. No decision was made on whether to invite Lukashenka to Prague in May for the meeting to start the Eastern Partnership. The E.U. is likely to postpone any invitation until closer to the event in case it becomes clear that Belarus intends to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, or commits blatant human rights abuses. This article appeared in Belarusian Review, Vol. 21, No. 1 --------------------------------------------- Copyright 2009 Belarusian Review All rights reserved. belarusianreview@hotmailcom Stephen Castle
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