Top official: EU not ready to compromise on political prisoners


There are certain barriers to the complete normalization of relations between the EU and Belarus that cannot be removed without specific steps by Belarus, Rodolphe Richard, head of Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Belarus, said during a round-table conference focusing on the relationship between Belarus and the EU following the November 28-29 Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

Mr Richard noted significant improvements in the relationship last year. “In any case, 2013 was better than 2012,” he said. “The EU suspended its sanctions against the foreign minister. He is still on the list [of Belarusians subject to EU travel bans and asset freezes], but, as long as he is foreign minister, he may travel, obtain a visa. Diplomatic communication between Belarus, the European Union and the member countries has increased.”

Aleh Shloma, a senior official at the Belarusian foreign ministry’s European Cooperation Directorate, said that the government was familiar with the EU’s demands regarding its imprisoned opponents. However, this is not the only barrier for cooperation between Belarus and the EU, Mr Shloma said. Even if these people leave prison tomorrow, Belarus will not automatically become a great friend of the EU that is showered with its money, he stressed.

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