25 February 2010
EU Council concerned about Belarus’ human rights situation, says Spanish official

The Council of European Union is concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus, Diego Lopez Garrido, the Spanish foreign ministry’s secretary of state for the EU, said when speaking at a debate that was held in the European Parliament on February 24 to discuss the country’s situation.

Mr. Garrido said that the situation had “degraded” amid “a lack of freedom of expression and association, increased pressure on media and opposition activists.”

The EU and all its bodies share the concern, he noted.

He said that the EU endorsed the criticism over the authorities’ crackdown on activist of the Polish community. “Human rights are universal and indivisible,” he stressed.

At the same time, he emphasized the need for the EU to continue its dialogue with the Belarusian authorities, noting that “it is important for Belarus to start heading in the right direction.”

He said that the EU foreign policy chief’s February 16 statement over Minsk’s treatment of the Polish community had been sent to the Belarusian authorities through diplomatic channels.

Kristalina Georgieva, the EU commissioner for international cooperation, said that “respect for human rights is the cornerstone of relationship with Belarus, the foundations on which the relationship is built.”

She stressed that the human rights situation in the country's had started worsening last year, "not two weeks ago." //BelaPAN