Slovakian Charge D’affaires Speaks about 12 EU Conditions for Belarus

12.10.2007. Source: Charter`97.

The EU is interested in Belarus’ joining the European community, Slovakian charge d’affaires to Belarus Lubomir Rehak told BelaPAN. The diplomat is a member of the EU Ambassadors delegation that is visiting Homel region on 11-12 October.

Last year the European Commission spread the information about the opportunities that the cooperation of Belarus and the EU could bring, and the actions that were expected from the Belarusian authorities. L.Rehak emphasized that the main purpose of this information was to show that the EU was willing to see Belarus as a member of the European community. ‘I would not call it demands; these are recommendations, the issues we consider fundamental for the European Community’s civilization basis. These issues should not contradict Belarusian nation’s concerns. Here we speak about discharge of political prisoners and creation of the economic environment which will be similar to that of the EU, so that there will be no islands in the ocean of free market,’ the diplomat emphasized.

L.Rehak states that Slovakia, which now chairs the Ministry Council of the European Council, will keep on scrutinizing problems of Belarus’ integration into the European society. ‘Belarusian citizens must have an opportunity to use protection of the European Council and international courts. The European Union is based on certain values: respect for individuality, human rights, freedoms and concerns, supremacy of the law. It is a matter of principle to meet our recommendations. I don’t think principles of Belarus shall differ from the European principles,’ Charge d’Affaires believes.