Seviarynets: Issue on cheap visas might be resolved now

Opposition members have discussed Belarus-EU relations at the European Parliament. Opposition politicians from Belarus met in Brussels with Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European Parliament, MEPs from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and from the European People's Party. Movement for Freedom leader Alexander Milinkevich says that MEPs know the situation in Belarus very well.

Milinkevich: “At the European Parliament, they know the situation very well. There is no need to make a long introduction. But we need to discuss EU's policy towards Belarus and economic cooperation. We are for a dialogue, but there should be a two-road movement”.


Milinkevich: “Jerzy Buzek is the man who knows the situation in Belarus very well. We focused more on what should be done and not on what has happened. The dialogue has not yielded huge effects that we hoped for. It means that the tactics should be even stronger in terms of conditions. Step by step. Belarus should demonstrate democratization, political reforms which did not take place. The EU and international structure should help upgrade the Belarusian economy”.

Pavel Seviarynets who is organizing the Belarusian Christian Democracy party also shares this opinion. He will describe the trip to Brussels as successful if it becomes clear that Europeans will tie political conditions with the economic assistance.

Seviarynets: “If European choose this way and confirm it during our meetings that they are prepared to talks with the regime in a serious and pragmatic way in order to democratize Belarus, we will consider it a success”.

Seviarynets hopes that probably the moment has come when Europe will lower visa costs for Belarus. Possibly, the situation with political prisoners, registration of political parties and the media will also change now. Seviarynets congratulated our radio with accreditation but says it is a small step yet but there should be more steps. "That's why we knock on all European offices in order to improve the situation with democracy in Belarus”.


On November 17-19, a delegation of the Belarusian opposition (Alexander Milinkevich, his deputy Yuras Hubarevich, Aliaksei Yuanukevich) have been holding meetings at the European Parliament.