EU extends sanctions against Belarus

The EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday extended sanctions against Belarus
by one year over continuing human rights abuses, lack of legitimacy
and failure to respect democratic principles in the country,
RIA-Novosti reports.

“As not all political prisoners have been released and no released
prisoner has been rehabilitated, and against the background of the
lack of improvement as regards the respect for human rights, the rule
of law and democratic principles, the Council decided to prolong the
existing restrictive measures until 31 October 2013,” RIA Novosti
quotes the statement of the EU foreign policy body.

Minsk sharply criticized the EU move, saying it “practically freezes
relations between Belarus and the European Union at a level that
does not suit the interests of either side.”

“We believe that this policy is contrary to the notion of neighbourly
relations… To overcome the existing differences, both sides must meet
halfway,” a Belarusian government statement said.