Poland maintains 'solidarity' with Belarusians

PM Tusk: photo -PAP/ Radek Pietruszka

Poland's PM was speaking after tension between the EU and Belarus increased this week after Minsk expelled Polish and EU diplomats from the Belarusian capital and Brussels responded by pulling out all envoys representing the 27 nation bloc.

“The drastic and nervous reaction shows that the type of sanctions which Poland proposes have become troublesome to the regime,” Donald Tusk said.

Belarusian president, Aleksander Lukashenko's decision to expel the diplomats came after new sanctions were agreed by the EU Council, including extending the names on a blacklist, whuch imposes travel restrictions and the freezing of assets for people associated with the regime in Minsk.

Poland wants further sanctions to be enacted against business people associated with Lukashenko's regime.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, currently campaigning for a third term in office as president of Russia, said today that he regrets that the EU has imposed new sanctions on Belarus.

“All sanctions are, at least, ineffective, as a rule,” he said.

“Sad events in Libya and Iraq demonstrate that whatever sanctions are applied, it all leads to intervention in the end. This is certainly an element of coercive pressure," he added.

Conditionality

The head of Poland's government, however, stressed that Poland applies a policy of conditionality towards Belarus.

If Lukashenko represses citizens of Belarus, Poland calls for sanctions. If his human rights record improves then Warsaw will call for incentives from the international community to encourage further improvements, Tusk said.

Tusk added that some of the most repressive policies of the Lukashenko regime of late have been aimed at “the Polish minority in Belarus,” which is why Poland is taking such a strong line against the Minsk government.

Donald Tusk assured that Poland will continue to work with representatives of the democratic opposition in Belarus. (pg)

source: PAP/IAR/TAS