EU Mulls Lifting of Some Sanctions Against Belarus

Poland led calls to ease political sanctions against the authoritarian government of Belarus at EU talks Saturday.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski suggested the 27-nation bloc "relax" some restrictive measures to send a signal to Minsk to spur further democratic changes there.

Other EU ministers and officials said they were considering to send a positive signal to Belarusian authorities after the ex-Soviet republic moved to release some political prisoners.

"Belarus has released its prisoners. Belarus is a more free country than Cuba, because you have private entrepreneurship, freedom to travel and hopefully an election which will be less restrictive, or less rigged than before," Sikorski said.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the EU "should be ready to answer" to reforms undertaken by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, but added it was also important that Sept. 28 parliamentary elections meet international standards, before the bloc moves to drop sanctions.

The EU should invite Belarus to send its foreign minister to Brussels for talks with EU counterparts at their next meeting there on Sept. 15 to discuss reforms, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he had a long phone call with the isolated country's foreign minister in recent days after the release of the prisoners.

Belarusian authorities released two political prisoners on Aug. 20 on orders from Lukashenko to improve ties with the West.

The U.S. suspended some economic sanctions against the ex-Soviet republic earlier this week after the release of several opposition activists last month.

The EU has largely cut contacts with Belarus, imposing financial sanctions and a travel ban on President Alexander Lukashenko and other leaders the bloc accuses of rigging elections and cracking down on opponents.

To gain the benefits of closer contact with the EU, Belarus would have to allow free elections and meet standards of free speech, human rights, independent media and judiciary.

EU nations froze the assets and funds held in their country by Lukashenko and 35 other top officials in 2006 to protest the president's re-election and crackdown against opposition groups.

The EU has also funded an independent TV and radio broadcast program, which was launched in 2006 to support opposition groups in Belarus.