European Parliament calls for sanctions against Belarus

The European Parliament has called for EU sanctions against Belarus in the wake of presidential elections held there 19 March 2006. EP President Josep Borrell said that ''the failure to respect international electoral standards in combination with a steadily deteriorating political situation and persistent violations of the civil and fundamental rights of the Belarusian people will not remain without consequences for the relations between the EU and Belarus."

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Info, 21.3.06: Belarus election: "severely flawed" according to election monitors http://europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/030-6570-076-03-11-903-20060321STO06569-2006-17-03-2006/default_en.htm

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