EU interested in normalising relations with Belarus

The European Union is interested in normalising relations with Belarus, Head of the EC Delegation in Ukraine and Belarus Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira told media after meeting with Vice-Premier of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov in Minsk on December 18.

Normalisation of Belarus-EU relations is possible in all areas, said the official.

He noted that in October the Luxembourg session of the EU Foreign Ministers Council made a decision, which allows and enables high-level contacts between officials of Belarus and the European Union.

At present the European Union continues monitoring Belarus in order to take further decisions regarding the development of relations with Belarus. The head of the European Commission mission said he hopes that the normalisation of Belarus-EU relations in all areas will become possible. In his words, the European Union is interested in normalising relations with Belarus. “We are satisfied with several steps taken by Belarus in line with EU expectations,” said Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira. The changes are visible in view of new proposals of the European Commission concerning eastern partnership. It is part of the summit, which will take place in Prague in May 2009. The event is part of the programme of the Czechia presidency in the European Union, remarked the head of the European Commission mission.