Belarus invites Russia to air common response to Western sanctions
MINSK. Feb 14 (Interfax) - Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Rumas has sent a letter to Eurasian Economic Commission Chairman Viktor Khristenko to suggest that the members of the common economic area should work out a consolidated position regarding the EU's and the U.S.' sanctions against Belarus, according to Belarusian media.
Rumas is the chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Council.
In particular, Belarus will insist on drafting a joint response to the EU's and the U.S.' sanctions against Belarus at the next Eurasian Economic Commission Council session.
Interfax could not immediately obtain comments on this account from the Belarusian government press service.
The Council of the European Union adopted a decision last week broadening the criteria for subjecting persons and entities responsible for "serious human rights violations or the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition" or supporting or benefiting from President Alexander Lukashenko's regime to restrictive measures.
The Foreign Affairs Council will consider broader sanctions against Belarusian officials at a session on February 27. Unofficial reports indicate that the ministers would discuss adding 135 more Belarusian officials to a list of those barred from entering the EU and whose assets in EU countries are to be frozen.
The Council of the European Union decided to impose visa and economic sanctions against Belarus at a session in Brussels on January 31, 2011, when the European Union foreign ministers endorsed a list of Belarusian officials they see as responsible for human rights violations during the last presidential campaign. These people have been barred from visiting the EU, and their bank accounts and property in EU countries are to be frozen. The list originally contained 158 names, and the Council of the European Union has extended it several times since then, and now more than 200 Belarusian officials are barred from entering the European Union.
The EU has also imposed sanctions on the companies Beltechexport, BT-Telecom, and Sport-Pari.
