The ultimatum from Prague

• 5.03.2012, 23:53

Change in Belarusian policies could pave the way for the political dialogue.

In a joint statement issued in Prague, foreign ministers of the Visegrad Four registered concern about developments in Belarus, including what they said was a lack of any improvement on human rights and the continuing repression of civil society combined with the absence of any deep democratic and economic reforms.

The foreign ministers also expressed concern about worsening relations between the EU and Belarus.

They stressed substantial change in Belarusian policies could pave the way for the resumption of political dialogue with Belarusian authorities.

They also called on Belarus to release and rehabilitate all political prisoners.

In the absence of a Belarusian delegation, foreign ministers from the EU’s other five Eastern Partnership countries were introduced to the Visegrad Four’s new initiative.

The program is to include flagship projects and grants to help boost reforms as well as student grants and scholarship programs aimed at accelerating the political associations and economic integration between the Eastern Partnership countries and the European Union.

Fuele, the EU’s enlargement commissioner, welcomed the initiative, telling RFE/RL that the transition experiences of the Visegrad Four countries after the collapse of communism can help former Soviet republics carry out policy changes that are more in line with EU laws and goals.