EU suspends travel ban on Belarus leader

Article reports that the European Union suspended 13 October 2008 a travel ban on Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, as part of an initiative to promote closer ties with former Soviet republics after Russia's invasion of Georgia. EU foreign ministers announced the move at a meeting where they also dropped most sanctions against Uzbekistan and promised to negotiate a comprehensive free trade accord with Moldova. But the ministers deferred a decision on resuming talks with Russia on a long-term partnership agreement in response to the partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia.

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13.10.08: Council Conclusions on Georgia/Russia http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/103297.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13.10.08: Council Conclusions on Belarus http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/103299.pdf

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/103295.pdf http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/103295.pdf

BBC News, 13.10.08: EU to let Belarus leader travel http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7667197.stm

EurActiv, 14.10.08: EU eases Belarus sanctions http://www.euractiv.com/en/foreign-affairs/eu-eases-belarus-sanctions/article-176312

---