Thorbjørn Jagland: Belarus must release the political prisoners
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe reminded of the conditions for starting the dialogue between the EU and Belarus.
“My firm intention is to keep expressing an active position and the readiness to get engaged in a constructive dialogue and cooperation. However the speed rates of this process will depend on the progress that Belarus demonstrates in the areas of democracy and human rights”, - Radio Svaboda quotes the Council of Europe’s Secretary General.
He stated that today at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
“The abolition of the death penalty and the release of the political prisoners remain at the top of the list of our expectations, but it is not the only task that Belarus must fulfill before it gets the right to be a Council of Europe’s member. It is clear that Belarus is located in Europe and has the right to belong to the organization and we must take all the effort to see this happening one fine day”, - Thorbjørn Jagland stated.
