Another seven countries have validated the policy of economic and political sanctions against Belarus. According to political analyst Aliaksandr Klaskouski, taking this step is sure to anger Belarusian officials, but the situation as a whole remains unchanged.
Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Serbia, Albania and Liechtenstein aligned themselves with the EU decisions on the Belarusian issue, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on June 8, 2012.
On March 23, 2012 the European Council decided to designate additional persons responsible for serious violations of human rights or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, to the list of those subject to travel restrictions and assets freezes. The Council also decided to designate further businessmen and companies benefitting from or supporting the regime.
Now 243 individuals are already subject to a travel ban and a freeze of their assets within the EU, Switzerland and the countries mentioned above.
In Aliaksandr Klaskouski’s opinion, there is nothing doing: the Balkan states are poised to join the European Union. By introducing sanctions they demonstrate their following democratic principles of united Europe.
“That is why these states take a tougher line towards the Belarusian regime because of its transgressions against democracy and human rights. Moreover, they are eager to score extra points sending a clear message: we are real Europeans and democrats, we line up in opposition to dictatorship,” the political analyst says.
It is not worth expecting that the situation in Belarus will be drastically changed after more states support EU resolutions, the expert forecasts. The sanctions themselves do show the EU stance on the Belarusian issue but there is hardly any chance of overthrowing the dictatorship by the toolbox of sanctions, Aliaksandr Klaskouski believes.
Belsat
