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Minsk, August 4 (Interfax) - The European Union expressed serious anxiety at what has been the second death sentence to have been passed by a Belarusian court in the past few weeks, the European Commission's Delegation to Belarus said on Monday.

In a statement cited by the delegation in a report, the EU again urged Belarus and other countries that have not yet abolished the death penalty to do so and to declare a moratorium on it before abolishing it.

One of the death sentences was passed by the Minsk City Court on July 22. The other was passed a month before.

The delegation cited in its report promises to seriously limit the use of capital punishment and ultimately abolish it that the Belarusian government has made over the last few years.

The release also mentioned a June 23, 2009, resolution of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in which PACE expresses willingness to return to the Belarusian parliament its currently suspended status of a special guest if Belarus declares a moratorium on the death penalty.

The statement's signatories include Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia, which are seeking to join the EU; Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, countries that are expected to seek EU membership in the future; member states of the European Free Trade Association; Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area; and Ukraine.