European Commissioner Johannes Hahn meets opposition in Minsk
They have discussed the political and economic situation in Belarus. The Commissioner may meet with Alyaksandr Lukashenka on Friday.
The Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations met with the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces in Minsk on April 16. Leader of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada) Iryna Veshtard, the Movement For Freedom Alyaksandr Milinkevich, United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, BPF Party Victar Yanukevich, representative of the steering committee for the creation of the party Belarusian Christian Democracy Volha Kavalkova and Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu who called himself a representative of the civil society attended the meeting.
The participants agreed not to quote one another, BelaPAN reports. The issue of a threat to Belarus’ independence, situation in the region, problem of political prisoners, dialogue between the EU and Belarus as well as the possible scenarios of the presidential election -2015 were discussed at the meeting, Alyaksei Yanukevich said.
Johannes Hahn’s main goal in Minsk is studying the possibilities of improving the EU-Belarus relations. The previous Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations (Štefan Füle) visited Belarus in 2010.
The European Commissioner is planning to meet with Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei on April 17, Radio Liberty reports. Johannes Hahn may also meet with Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Photo: AFP
