Head of EU delegation to Belarus notes potential for rapprochement

Relations between Belarus and the European Union can improve if both sides decide that they want rapprochement, Maira Mora, head of the European Union’s Delegation to Belarus, told reporters in Minsk on Thursday.

The visits that have taken place and are still expected indicate that progress is possible, Ms. Mora said.

On February 24, Helga Schmid, deputy secretary general at the European External Action Service, visited Minsk together with Gunnar Wiegand, director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and the OSCE at the European External Action Service. Andrea Rigoni, the rapporteur on Belarus at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), arrived in the capital city on February 25 for a two-day visit. On February 27, Sandra Kalniete, vice chairperson of the European People’s Party’s Group in the European Parliament, will stay in Minsk.

While meeting with Ms. Schmid on Tuesday, Mr. Lukashenka expressed hope that “this is the beginning of our good dialogue with the European Union.”

According to Mr. Lukashenka, relations between Belarus and the European Union “are not as vague as before."

He expressed a high opinion of Ms. Mora’s performance, describing her as "one of the few Western ambassadors who are accepted by society."