English

Lukashenka promises democratic vote to EU

Belarus’ coming presidential election will be even more democratic and transparent than the country`s previous campaigns, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said when meeting with the visiting foreign ministers of Germany and Poland in Minsk on Tuesday, BelaPAN said.

“The legitimacy of the forthcoming election is most important to us than anyone else in the world,” the Belarusian leader said.

“Our parliament and president have always been elected in a democratic way,” he said. “This election will be democratic as well, because you want this. Now that Europe has questioned our elections, I have told [government officials] openly that they should wink at all violations on the part of the opposition. I will tell you everything after the vote.”

Commenting on the bilateral relations, Mr. Lukashenka said that both Germany and Poland were doing much to increase ties with Belarus and improve its relations with the European Union on the whole.

“The potential of our opportunities is huge, but the number of opportunities not yet addressed is much bigger,” the Belarusian leader said. “And steps that the EU is taking – I am speaking of sanctions and other restrictions – do not contribute to the improvement of the relations.”

Mr. Lukashenka also expressed concern about what he called “foot-dragging” on the implementation of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership program targeting Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. “There were a plenty of hopes, but they remain unfulfilled,” he said. “We have something what we could offer to the EU.”

Minister Radoslaw Sikorski of Poland said that his country was interested in seeing Belarus pursuing European values.

Poland welcomes economic and travel benefits that the Eastern Partnership is designed to bring to its participants, Mr. Sikorski said, noting that Moldova, for instance, would soon receive assistance totaling EUR2 billion within the framework of the program.

“I believe that necessary political conditions will be created and Belarus will also be able to benefit from this cooperation,” he said. “So, I would like to take you at your word regarding the election that you say will be free and democratic.”

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that the EU wanted Belarus to be not only a good neighbor but also a reliable partner.

“We are ready to step up our economic cooperation, but we also want Belarus to respect human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law,” he said.

He warned that the country’s coming presidential election would be “a litmus test for democracy in Belarus.”

The EU calls on the Belarusian authorities to give opposition activists unrestricted access to the media so that they could reach out to people, the German minister said, expressing hope that international observers would have an opportunity to study the situation in the country and conduct the comprehensive observation of the campaign.

Mr. Lukashenka replied, “If you wish, you may even count the votes.”