The European Union should soon suspend its entry ban on Uladzimir Makey for the period while he is Belarus’ foreign minister, Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrius Krivas told reporters in Vilnius on June 7, 2013.
“Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey, who is subject to the EU’s travel restrictions, will be able to attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of Eastern Partnership countries, which will take place in Brussels on July 22,” Polskie Radio quoted Mr. Krivas as saying.
More than 243 Belarusian citizens, including Makey himself, are currently subject to travel bans and the same persons plus 32 business entities are subject to asset freezes within the EU for their role in human rights violations in Belarus and support of the current regime. Uladzimir Makey was blacklisted while he was serving as head of the Presidential Administration. In his position Makey followed Siarhei Martynau, who was released from his duties inconnection with “his transferring to other work”. The latter was not included in the black list.
It should be noted that foreign diplomats, activists and politicians differ in opinions on the subject. For example, David Kramer, executive director of Washington-based Freedom House, said during a conference in Tallinn that the invitation of Makey to the Eastern Partnership summit would be a sign of the failure of the Western policy regarding Belarus.
Belsat
