Carl Bildt: Sweden in talks over ambassador's return to Minsk

The Council of the EU session's agenda includes among other issues the situation in Syria and Iran, EU's relations with Russia and energy supplies. The foreign ministers of EU member states will also discuss the situation in Belarus, says EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton:

"Today, we turn our attention to the Eastern neighborhood. In our opinion, the election in Belarus is a lost opportunity. We will continue to use the means of influence that we have. We believe that political prisoners should be released and properly rehabilitated."

Before the meeting, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt recalled Belarus. When asked by journalists when the Swedish Ambassador would return to Minsk, the diplomat was unable to give a precise answer to this question.

Carl Bildt: "I do not know, I cannot tell a specific date, but we are ready now. The negotiations on this issue are in progress. Today we are going to adopt restrictive and other measures against Belarus as this country still has political prisoners. Therefore, the measures will be continued. Well, we hope that Belarus will respect the principles of diplomatic cooperation and contacts that exist between all the countries. "

Euroradio reminds that on October 15 the Council of the EU plans to discuss the situation in Belarus after the parliamentary election. It is also expected that Uladzimir Makey, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, may be withdrawn from the list of persons banned from entering the EU territory. The previous head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Syarhei Martynau, was not included into the "black list." Thus the EU wants to keep an opportunity for a dialogue between Minsk and Brussels.

Photo: pinchukfund.org.