European deputies cancelled visit to Belarus after difficult conversation with Martynau
European deputies decided to pay an official visit to Belarus after a long break in order to support the European policy of establishing closer relations with Belarus.
A Dutch parliamentarian, vice-chair of the Party of European Socialists Jan Marinus Wiersma explained to ERB that European deputies had decided to put off the visit to our country because they were not ready for an official meeting with Belarusian parliamentarians.
Jan Marinus Wiersma: “In the end, we had a very tense discussion with the Belarusian Foreign Minister. They wanted us to meet the Belarusian Parliament officially. We were not ready for it because it would mean a meeting in the building of the Parliament in Minsk. But we have not recognized the last parliamentary elections in Belarus so it is very difficult to have official contacts with Belarusian parliamentarians the legitimacy of whom we do not recognize. That is why we have decided to put off the visit”.
A Dutch parliamentarian, vice-chair of the Party of European Socialists Jan Marinus Wiersma explained to ERB that European deputies had decided to put off the visit to our country because they were not ready for an official meeting with Belarusian parliamentarians.
Jan Marinus Wiersma: “In the end, we had a very tense discussion with the Belarusian Foreign Minister. They wanted us to meet the Belarusian Parliament officially. We were not ready for it because it would mean a meeting in the building of the Parliament in Minsk. But we have not recognized the last parliamentary elections in Belarus so it is very difficult to have official contacts with Belarusian parliamentarians the legitimacy of whom we do not recognize. That is why we have decided to put off the visit”.
