The UK backs Belarus' bid to integrate into the
European Union as its Eastern partner, Ambassador Nigel Gould-Davies
told Interfax. The British embassy will
represent the EU in Belarus
starting on January 1, 2010.
The ambassador
noted some progress made by the country toward democracy, citing the release of
what the EU called political prisoners, the registration of some
non-governmental organizations, and the decision by the government to give two
opposition newspapers access to the state-controlled distribution networks.
The diplomat stressed that his
country is willing to boost trade ties with Belarus,
noting that the UK
plays an important role in the board of directors of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF).
