EU does not seek arrangement with Russia on Belarus, British ambassador says :: Charter'97 :: News

The European Union does not seek to come to some arrangement with Russia on Belarus, the British ambassador in Minsk, Brian Bennett, said at a news conference on April 28. “Of course that is not the way we are progressing,” he stressed.

The British embassy in Minsk represents Luxembourg, which presides over the EU.
But the EU should always talk to the Russians about democracy in the world and common interests in Europe, Mr. Bennett said and added that it is not for the EU to attempt to decide what sort of government Belarus should have.

“But human rights is not a question of internal affairs. We reserve the right to advise Belarus on the way it should be moving.”

He added that the EU would like to see Belarus making the transition to a democratic society. “And it is a great regret that we see a country on the border of the European Union moving in the opposite direction.”

Speaking at the same news conference, US Ambassador George Krol pointed out that the US Secretary of State during her visit to Lithuania made it clear that it is up to the people of Belarus to determine their leadership and how they will select their leadership.
Asked whether the US president intends to discuss the issue of Belarus during a meeting with his Russian counterpart in May, Mr. Krol said that issues of democracy and democratic development always have been on the agenda of the US-Russian dialogue.