Sikorski: Sanctions to be extended if political prisoners are not released

• 22.03.2012, 10:32

The European Union will extend sanctions against the Belarusian regime if political prisoners are not released in the country.

This statement was made by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski at a press conference in Berlin on March 21, BelaPAN reports.

“We hope political prisoners will be released, otherwise the EU will have to introduce additional sanctions,” Polish PAP quotes the foreign minister.

Sikorski took part in a trilateral meeting with German and Russian foreign ministers Guido Westerwelle and Sergei Lavrov in Berlin.

We remind on February 28, the Belarusian authorities recommended ambassador of Poland Leszek Szerepka and head of the EU Delegation to Belarus Maira Mora to return to their capitals for consultations to convey to their leadership a firm position of the Belarusian side on inadmissibility of pressure and sanctions. Andrei Yeudachenka, the permanent representative of Belarus to the EU, and Belarusian Ambassador in Poland Viktar Haisyonak were recalled to Belarus. In response, the EU countries recalled their ambassadors from Minsk.

The EU Council is expected to hear an issue on the list of Belarusian entities and individuals subject to sanctions on March 23 in Brussels.