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George Soros suggests giving Lukashenka opportunity to show intention to change Belarus’ relations with Europe, improve internal situation

Alyaksandr Lukashenka should be given an opportunity to show an intention not only to change Belarus’ relations with Europe but also to improve the internal situation, international financier George Soros said at the 13th Open Society Forum that was held in Tallinn, Estonia, on November 6 and 7.

The main subject of the conference, organized by the Open Estonia Foundation in cooperation with the European Foreign Policy Council, was the relationship between the European Union and Russia, but participants also touched on the theme of EU-Belarus relations.

Mr. Soros noted that the return of European Humanities University from Vilnius to Minsk would be appreciated, as its students want to study in their country.

It is very encouraging that high-level European politicians do not forget about the problems of Belarus and want it to return into civilized Europe, said Belarusian student Ihar Sluchak, who has to study in Estonia for political reasons.

Participating in the forum were 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari, Finland’s president between 1994 and 2000; Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves; former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga; and other prominent politicians. //BelaPAN