Relations between the European Union and Belarus, the problem of political prisoners, respect to human rights, and interaction with the civil society in Belarus were discussed at the meeting.

A meeting of representatives of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum with Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations and with representatives of the European External Action Service and the European Commission has taken place in Minsk, Radio Svaboda informs.

“The situation with human rights and political prisoners is the thing that hinders development of relations between the EU and Belarus,” was said at the meeting.

The Belarusan side at the meeting was represented by the co-chairs of the Steering Committee of the EaP CSF, country facilitator for Belarus of the EaP CSF, and the Director of the Center for European Transformation Andrei Yahorau, the chairman of the Belarusan Association of Journalists Andrei Bastunets, the chairman of the public association “Tsentr Supolnasts” Siarhei Mackevich, the chairman of Homel Democratic Forum Piotr Kuzniatsou, the chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Platform Svetlana Karaleva, a coordinator of the Green Alliance society Yaroslav Bekish.

“Commissioner Hahn noted that the situation with human rights and political prisoners is the thing that impedes development of relations today, and it is the main issue. If it is solved, it would be possible to move towards a closer cooperation with Belarus, and try to achieve some changes, and principally in those spheres of cooperation where there is interest of Belarusan authorities and the EU to cooperate.

Besides, EU Commissioner Hahn noted that involvement of the civil society in all processes of cooperation is a natural approach used by the European Union in its relations. That is why they would greet an opportunity of a broader participation of the civil society,” Andrei Yahorau said.

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