Benita Ferrero-Waldner: Hopefully, Belarus is to make European choice :: Charter'97 :: News

“Belarus itself must deal with its problems and succeed in solving them. I sincerely hope the strategic choice of Belarus will be towards Europe”’, the declaration was made by the European Union Commissioner on external relations and neighborhood policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner upon delivering her speech to the EU Committee on external relations 11 September.

She stressed that Belarus will remain the country “to be paid special attention to” by the European Union. Benita Ferrero-Waldner also remarked that her representatives met the Belarusian official delegation 3 September at the international conference”Working together for Improving Neighborhood policy” in Brussels, the BelaPAN reports. “The meeting was constructive”, Benita Ferrero-Waldner concluded. We gave an unambiguous message that we hope to see our relations improving and steps forward to full-value partnership being taken within the European good neighborhood policy”. She also stressed that that the improvement of relations is possible only “upon Belarus making its definite steps towards democratization and human rights observation. We must continue demanding those fundamental values exercising”, Benita Ferrero-Waldner declared.

According to her, last spring “certain positive changes” were noticed in Belarus but recent arrests of the public activists and confiscation of brochures” What can the European Union give to the Belarusian People” “are not optimistic”.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner also specified that the issue of European Commission representation office opening in Minsk is still under consideration of the Commission. According to her, all the opening procedures” have been delayed by the Belarusian side”. ”Last week once again we reminded the Belarusian side about the issue. Hopefully, Belarus will adopt our arrangements in the near future”, the Eurocomissioner said.

Speech of Benita Ferrero-Waldner posted Eurocommission