The EU will continue to support the Belarusian opposition…
(BRUSSELS2) The meeting of COPS ambassadors, in the middle of August, was essentially symbolic: to mark the support of the 27 for Sweden in its showdown with Belarus and the disapproval vis-à-vis the policy of the Belarusian government. The 27 thus endorsed the previous declarations of the High Representative of the EU and expressed their serious concern about the decision taken by Belarus to expel Swedish diplomats (read: Between Belarus and Sweden, the rag burns). They also said they had no intention of giving up support to promote democracy in the former Soviet republic and support the Belarusian opposition.
Belarusian ambassadors summoned
The measures taken by Belarus impact » the conditions for political dialogue between the EU and Belarus; the restriction of political contacts with Belarus remains on the agenda and will be “ subject to the necessary attention ". The ambassadors of Belarus in the various Member States as well as to the European Union should thus be summoned in order to protest against this attitude and deliver the European message. The EU will thus take into account in its update of the restrictive measures against the Lukashenko regime - expected by October 31, 2012, the " situation arising from the current diplomatic crisis caused by Belarus in addition to internal developments in Belarus — the ongoing crackdown on civil society, the fate of political prisoners, and the holding of upcoming parliamentary elections.
Support for the opposition
The European Union remains attached to certain "values, such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law" and the Europeans said they wanted to "continue and broaden their engagement and support for civil society and democratic actors in Belarus ". A formula which is not only of style... We remember that it was indeed the dropping of teddy bears - on a "private" Swedish initiative - which aroused the ire of Minsk against Sweden. The European Commission and the diplomatic service (SEAE) are therefore invited to work on the subject and to propose to the 27 COPS ambassadors “ concrete measures as soon as possible ».
The very relative effect of sanctions on the situation of political prisoners
The 27 also expressed their “ dismay that none of the other political prisoners have been released as part of the recent amnesty. They stay " deeply concerned ” by the conditions of detention of political prisoners and call “ one more time " upon their release "immediate" and their " complete » rehabilitation.
