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Lithuania`s deputy foreign minister defends EU restrictive measures

 

The European Union`s restrictive measures against Belarusian individuals and companies are a call for taking essential steps to improve the human rights situation, Andrius Krivas, Lithuania`s deputy foreign minister, said at a discussion between students and EU diplomats at European Humanities University in Vilnius on July 25.

He said that the measures were effective because they stopped Belarus from ignoring the EU`s demand that all political prisoners be released and that the human rights situation be improved.

"Belarusian officials are subject to targeted restrictive measures, in response to their concrete actions. One of the basic principles is that sanctions should be targeted, which should eliminate any adverse humanitarian effects or unintended consequences for ordinary citizens," the Lithuanian foreign ministry`s press office quoted Mr. Krivas as saying.

The discussion took place in the framework of a visit of members of the Foreign Relations Counselors Working Group of the European Commission (RELEX) to Vilnius.

Lithuania took over the rotating EU presidency on July 1. // BelaPAN