European Commission considers opening office in Minsk, British ambassador says :: Charter'97 :: News

British Ambassador Brian Bennett said that the European Commission may open its mission in Minsk. The European Commission has administered its Tacis program in Belarus through its office in Kyiv, the diplomat told reporters in Minsk on Monday. “Unfortunately, it [the office] is a long way away,” he said.

According to Mr. Bennett, EU programs cannot be administered efficiently in Belarus unless the European Commission opens its office in the country.

The ambassador noted that the EU needs a mission in Minsk to “follow developments, understand what’s going on and coordinate with people like us.”

“So, we would like to see a Commission office here. The Commission would like to see an office here. And we’re now doing what we can to see whether we can find the money in Brussels and the organizational resources,” the diplomat said.

Mr. Bennett expressed hope that the opening of an EU mission in Belarus would help develop the country’s relations with the 25-nation bloc.

Jan Sadek, head of the Minsk office of the Swedish embassy in Russia, noted that the European Commission’s office in Belarus would help better inform the country’s population about the European Union.