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Lonely Makei in Vilnius (Photo-fact)

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The Belarusian foreign minister is treated like an outcast at the Eastern Partnership Summit.

The Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius began yesterday. The event gathered leaders of 28 EU countries and 6 EaP members – Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.

There was a debate on who should represent Belarus, because the country's foreign minister Uldzimir Makei was banned from entering the EU. The former head of Lukashenka's administration was among the organisers of a brutal crackdown on opposition and mass arrests of activists during a protest rally against the fraudulent presidential election in 2010.

No particular names were mentioned in an invitation for Belarus. Makei was chosen to visit the summit.

Problems with Makei appeared yesterday, charter97.org learnt form European diplomatic sources. Not all EU leaders were ready to sit down to table with Lukashenka's representative at an informal dinner. Organisers managed to solve the problem and avoid conflicts.

The Belarusian foreign minister didn't have many contacts during official events today. At the closed meetings today, Makei received a rather tough message for Lukashenka demanding to immediately release the political prisoners, according to sources.

“Makei has tough talks. He received a tough message for Lukashenka from the EU leaders,” the source says.

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