Lukashenka lauds EU for lifting sanctions against Belarus

The European Union has done a good job and made a decision that is perfectly acceptable for Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at a government conference on Tuesday, commenting on the EU’s decision to lift its restrictive measures against Belarusian authorities.

“The foreign minister should thank his colleagues for making such a decision,” Mr. Lukashenka said, according to the presidential press office. “They have realized that there’s an opportune moment and it’s necessary to abandon this bloc thinking and confrontation with Belarus on time. They’ve made a decision that’s perfectly satisfactory to us.”

Mr. Lukashenka ordered the government to step up contacts with different EU banking institutions and with potential investors. “We’re open to this,” he said.
On February 15, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union decided not to extend the bloc’s restrictive measures against 170 Belarusian citizens, including Mr. Lukashenka, and three companies.

However, entry bans and asset freezes were left in force for four persons involved in unresolved disappearances in Belarus in 1999 and 2000, namely, former Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumaw, former Prosecutor General Viktar Sheyman, former Interior Minister Yury Sivakow, and Dzmitry Pawlichenka, a former commander of an Interior Troops unit.

In addition, the Foreign Affairs Council prolonged the embargo on arms sales for one year.