TALLINN - It is essential for democratic development in Belarus that Belarusians "should be given the opportunity to establish contacts with the world," Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet argued on Aug. 27.
“We know from experience how essential it is in a transitional period
to receive support from one’s friends and neighbors. For this reason,
we have decided to set up the European Partnership Center in Tallinn,
which enables us to share our experience and knowledge and support our
eastern partners in their development,” Paet said at a seminar for
Belarusian pro-democracy activists at the Eastern Partnership Center.
“The recent diplomatic conflict between Belarus and Sweden has
aggravated the situation and has made assistance to Belarus from the
European Union more difficult, but this diplomatic crisis must not
affect projects that aim to give direct support to Belarusian society,”
he said.
The seminar closes on Wednesday, Aug.29. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski was present at its opening.
