Belarusian opposition politician Alyaksandr Milinkevich met with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout in Prague earlier this week to discuss prospects for Belarus’ relations with the European Union.
The meeting lasted 45 minutes, said the press office of Mr. Milinkevich’s Movement for Freedom.
Mr. Kohout promised that his country would continue next year to support people persecuted for political reasons in Belarus and invite Belarusian students to study at its universities, the press office said.
Prague also will increase its support for independent media, in particular the Euroradio radio station and the Polish-based Belsat TV channel that broadcasts to Belarus, according to the report.
On October 13 and 14, Mr. Milinkevich met with Russian liberal economist Yegor Gaidar and Russian pro-Western politician Grigory Yavlinsky in Prague to discuss prospects for Belarusian-Russian relations and cooperation in the development of proposals for economic reform in Belarus, the press office said.
Mr. Milinkevich traveled to Prague to take part in the 13th Forum 2000 that is traditionally held under the auspices of former Czech President Vaclav Havel.
Titled "Democracy and Freedom in a Multipolar World," the forum focused on the development of democracy after the Cold War, human rights and multi-polarity, instruments of international influence and the economic crisis, shifting values in capitalism.
