Alyaksandr Kazulin met with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg
- 27.03.2009, 10:17
On March 25 a meeting between Alyaksandr Kazulin, a former candidate for presidency in Belarus, and Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs Czech Republic took place.
During the conversation prospects of potential positive changes for Belarus related to implementation of the Eastern Partnership program. As informed by Kazulin’s press-service, it was also noted that Belarus’ participation in this program is possible only after the Belarusian authorities adopt the basic common European values.
A real situation with human rights and freedoms of citizens in Belarus was analyzed. It was noted that institutional, system-level steps on democratization of the Belarusian society and liberalization of the economy haven’t been made by the Belarusian authorities.
It was a surprise for the Czech minister that there are new political prisoners in Belarus at the present, two of which were released in February last year in the framework of the officially held campaign of the so-called “liberalization”.
Karel Schwarzenberg asked to inform him personally and fully about the real situation in Belarus.
The issue of morality of a possible visit of Alyaksandr Lukashenka to Prague on May 7 was raised as well. The attitudes and positions appeared to be very close.
“A meeting with Karel Schwarzenberg was held in a warm and constructive atmosphere. The head of the Czech Foreign Ministry was a well-known human rights activist in the past, that is why humanistic values, the fight for freedoms and rights of citizens is not an empty phrase for him,” Alyaksandr Kazulin said.
As we have informed, on March 20 Karel Schwarzenberg stated that invitation for Lukashenka to Prague would depend “on his behaviour”.
The summit of the heads of the states invited to the eastern Partnership Program is to take place in Prague on May 7, 2009. An opinion of the Czech Republic, the country presiding in the EU now, plays an important role in a possible inviting of the Belarusian leader to the summit.
