Comment by the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus in Connection with the Decision of the European Union Council

30-10-2014

The Belarusian side regrets that the definition of the European Union's policy towards the Republic of Belarus is still dominated by inertia of the past.

The decision of the European Union Council adopted on 30 October 2014 to prolong restrictions against a number of Belarusian citizens and companies is another lost opportunity to remove the main hindrance on the way towards normalizing our relations and to start substantive work for the sake of building mutually beneficial cooperation in the interests of our citizens.

This decision by no means helps to achieve the goal declared by the European Union — to promote respect for human rights, supremacy of the law and democratic principles. Moreover, the decision totally contradicts these principles.

At the same time we mark a certain reduction of sanction lists and it is a step in the right direction although an insufficient one. Our principled position against building relations on the basis of sanctions and pressure remains unchanged. We expect that our European partners will revise their dead-end approach to cooperation with Belarus and will finally abandon the logic of sanctions in favour of the dialogue based on mutual respect.

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