Belarus welcomes abolition of EU sanctions

Belarus said on Monday it welcomed the European Union (EU)'s decision to lift most of the restrictive measures against the country as an opportunity to enhance cooperation and regional stability.

The decision marks an important step towards full normalization of relations and opens new opportunities for expanding multifaceted cooperation between Belarus and the EU, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman Dmitry Mironchik said.

This move "clearly proves that only dialogue is the most effective tool for settlement of disputes," Mironchik said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

"We hope that it will contribute to regional stability and security. We are ready to contribute to this process," he said.

Belarus is ready to continue a constructive dialogue with the EU on all matters of mutual interest, according to the statement.

The EU in October suspended asset freezes and travel ban sanctions against 170 individuals and three entities in Belarus and now EU foreign ministers decided to make that decision permanent, a statement said.

However, the EU foreign ministers agreed "the arms embargo and the restrictive measures related to the four individuals listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist, will be extended for a period of twelve months."

The EU imposed visa and economic sanctions against Minsk in January 2011 in response to "the continued incarceration of political prisoners and crackdown on political activists, journalists and civil society representatives." Endit