Makei had invitation to Euronest, but chose not to come

This statement was made by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, the chair of the Euronest Working Group on Belarus.

The Working Group on Belarus is to hold a meeting in Brussels today. Members of the Belarusian opposition will attend the meeting as observers. Belarusian foreign minister Uladzimir Makei was invited to the event, but refused to go to Brussels.

“The refusal of the foreign minister to visit the meeting of the working group devoted to Belarus, the fact that he cannot come and sit at the table together with representatives of Belarusian opposition and civil society shows that the EU and the Belarusian authorities have not topics to discuss,” Jacek Sariusz-Wolski said in an interview with Radio Racyja.

Participation of Belarus in Euronest, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Eastern Partnership programme, is exclusively symbolic, the MEP thinks. This situation won't change unless free and transparent elections are held in Belarus.

“No radical changes are possible unless the situation in Belarus is changed, and the Belarusian parliament is recognised as a democratically elected body. We know about talks with Ukrane, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan at different levels. Belarus is the only country that is not involved in talks. Relations with the country remain at a low level. The Eastern Partnership thinks Belarus pursues a policy of self-isolation,” the MEP said.

It should be reminded that representatives of six Belarusian opposition parties and movements will take part in the session of the Eastern Partnership's Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels.

Members of the BPF party, the United Civil Party, the Fair World party, the Movement for Freedom, Tell the Truth civil campaign and the organising committee to found the Belarusian Christian Democracy party went to the EU capital to attend the session as observers.