News

On 21 January in Vilnius, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Evaldas Ignatavičius met with heads of European Union’s diplomatic representations in Minsk and discussed with them the priorities of Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the situation in Belarus.

They also discussed steps towards the preparation of the common EU position on further relations with Belarus and support of the EU for the Belarusian civil society. The Vice-Minister reiterated the deep regret that was expressed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis regarding Belarusian authorities’ decision to close the OSCE Office in Minsk.

Vice-Minister E.Ignatavičius believes that Belarusian authorities themselves should be interested in strengthening the OSCE activities in their country, therefore, Lithuania, as the current Chairmanship of the OSCE, calls on Belarus to reconsider the decision regarding the work of the OSCE Office in Minsk.

Lithuania, as the Chairmanship of the OSCE, aspires to the implementation of commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire OSCE space and continues consultations on a meaningful OSCE representation in Belarus.

The Vice-Minister also stressed that support for the Belarusian civil society should become an important element in shaping the EU’s and the OSCE policy towards Belarus.

The participants of the meeting shared information on the on-going EU support for the Belarusian civil society, plans and possible areas of support. A joint concern was voiced for the representatives of the Belarusian opposition and civil society who are detained and remain in prison.

The EU diplomats spoke up for sending a strong signal to the Belarusian civil society and facilitating visa regime for the citizens of Belarus. According to the heads of the EU diplomatic representations in Minsk, the next possibility to send such a signal will be during the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 31 January.

Before the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads of twelve diplomatic representations in Minsk and of the European Commission’s Delegation visited the European Humanities University, where they had an opportunity to speak with the university’s management, its students and with the witnesses of the events of 19 December in Minsk. Some EHU students observed the presidential elections in Belarus, and some of them were detained and kept in the KGB-isolator. Two of them are still imprisoned.

The EU diplomats voiced their support for the continuity of the EHU activities, as well as for the projects to strengthen the independent media in Belarus.

Belarusian authorities closed down EHU in 2004 and since 2005 it has been based in Lithuania.