EU to continue diplomatic communication with Lukashenko – Borrell
<p> MINSK, August 24 - PrimePress. The European Union (EU) will have to continue diplomatic communication with Alexander Lukashenko, although the Union does not recognize him as a legally elected president of Belarus, says EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. </p> <p> </p> <p> Borrell says the EU must continue dialogue with Lukashenko, comparing his situation to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who has also repressed a vocal opposition movement. </p> <p> “Maduro and Lukashenko are in exactly the same situation. We don’t recognize their elections as legitimate. Nevertheless, whether we like it or not, they control the government and we have to continue dealing with them, although we don’t recognize their democratic legitimacy,” Borrell told Spanish El Pais on August 23. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to Borrell, Belarus should not be allowed to become a “second Ukraine.” In Ukraine, “tensions between Europe and Russia were settled with shooting, with violence and the disintegration of Ukraine’s territory that has lasted to this day.” “The Belarusians’ problem today isn’t to choose between Russia and Europe, it’s to obtain liberty and democracy,” Borrell said. </p> <p> </p> <p> On August 13, Borrell called on Lukashenko to stop repression against the people and start negotiations with society. Otherwise, the EU would impose sanctions against those guilty of violence, illegal arrests and electoral fraud,” Borrell said. End </p>
2020-08-24
Primepress
EU to continue diplomatic communication with Lukashenko – Borrell
MINSK, August 24 - PrimePress. The European Union (EU) will have to continue diplomatic communication with Alexander Lukashenko, although the Union does not recognize him as a legally elected president of Belarus, says EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
Borrell says the EU must continue dialogue with Lukashenko, comparing his situation to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who has also repressed a vocal opposition movement.
“Maduro and Lukashenko are in exactly the same situation. We don’t recognize their elections as legitimate. Nevertheless, whether we like it or not, they control the government and we have to continue dealing with them, although we don’t recognize their democratic legitimacy,” Borrell told Spanish El Pais on August 23.
According to Borrell, Belarus should not be allowed to become a “second Ukraine.” In Ukraine, “tensions between Europe and Russia were settled with shooting, with violence and the disintegration of Ukraine’s territory that has lasted to this day.” “The Belarusians’ problem today isn’t to choose between Russia and Europe, it’s to obtain liberty and democracy,” Borrell said.
On August 13, Borrell called on Lukashenko to stop repression against the people and start negotiations with society. Otherwise, the EU would impose sanctions against those guilty of violence, illegal arrests and electoral fraud,” Borrell said. End