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Eight countries align themselves with extension of EU sanctions

Eight European countries have aligned themselves with the European Union’s decision to extend its sanctions against a number of Belarusian individuals and economic entities until October 31, 2013.

The countries are Albania, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, and Serbia.

Catherine Ashton, the EU`s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said that the 27-nation bloc took note of and welcomed the countries’ decision, according to Russia’s news agency RIA Novosti.

All of the countries but Norway aligned themselves with the sanctions in June 2012.

The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council prolonged the sanctions on October 15.

In its conclusions adopted at a meeting in Luxembourg, the Council reiterated its call for the immediate release and rehabilitation of all remaining political prisoners.

The Council called once again on the Belarusian authorities to stop the harassment of civil society, the political opposition and the independent media.

The Council expressed its intention to further elaborate the European Dialogue on Modernization and noted that “the European Dialogue has stimulated a substantial debate among representatives of Belarusian society with a view to proposing concrete ideas on the reform needs and encourages the authorities of Belarus to engage in the discussions.”

As many as 243 Belarusian officials, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka, are currently subject to travel bans and the same 243 persons plus 32 business entities are subject to asset freezes within the EU. //BelaPAN