EU calls for greater democracy in Belarus ahead of Minsk visit

EU calls for greater democracy in Belarus ahead of Minsk visitBrussels - The European Union's external affairs commissioner Friday called on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to expand democracy in his country ahead of her visit to Minsk.

As well as to push for more human rights and greater freedom of the media, Benita Ferrero-Waldner also plans to use her June 22 trip to Belarus to announce 10 million euros (14 million dollars) in EU aid to one of the continent's poorest nations.

The money is to be used to improve food safety in a country in which almost a quarter of the land is still contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.

Next week's planned trip is Ferrero-Waldner's second attempt to meet Lukashenko in Minsk. Earlier this year, the president cancelled a meeting with the commissioner at the last minute.

The EU has been pursuing a carrot-and-stick approach to Belarus in a bid to turn it into a Western-style democracy, with mixed results.

As well as suspending a travel ban on the regime's top officials, the bloc is also currently holding talks on how to improve the country's standards in such fields as energy, the environment, agriculture and transport.

In May, Belarus was after much diplomatic wrangling invited to an Eastern Partnership summit designed to boost ties between the EU and its Eastern neighbours.

"Belarus has taken steps in the right direction and we have recognised that, notably by inviting Belarus to participate in the Eastern Partnership," Ferrero-Waldner said.

"However, if our relations are to deepen, we will need to see further moves to develop democratic freedoms, for example the possibility for civil society to work and hold meetings without fear of harassment or arrest, and allowing national and international journalists to do their work freely and to distribute their products without restrictions," the commissioner said, noting that the EU had "a lot to offer to Belarus".

During her trip to what is frequently described as "Europe's last dictatorship", Ferrero-Waldner also plans to meet representatives of the opposition and of civil society. (dpa)