News.Az - November 6 - Possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Belarus would contradict to the spirit of cooperation and hardly facilitate it within the framework of the Eastern Partnership policy, said Hans-Dieter Lucas, an authorized representative on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia of the German Foreign Ministry, speaking at the 12th Minsk Forum on November 5. He called EU's position on this issue ‘clear’, as the independence of these regions had not been recognized by any EU state or any other partners of the EU’s new policy. In turn, Stephan Ericsson, ambassador of Sweden, chairing the EU, called the position of Minsk that has never recognized self-declared republics ‘wise’. The diplomat noted that Belarus has a right to take any decision on this issue.

Bundestag deputy Carl-Georg Wellman said the European Union has disapproved the way that Russia chose to settle territorial conflicts. “I doubt that it would be reasonable for Belarus to recognize Russia’s policy in such issues”, the German deputy said.

Source: News.Az

Minsk Forum: Europeans fear recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Minsk

Charter97 - November 6 -Possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Belarus would contradict the spirit of cooperation and would unlikely to facilitate it in the framework of Eastern Partnership policy.

It has been stated by Hans-Dieter Lukas, special envoy of the German Foreign Ministry for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus in his speech at 12th Minsk Forum on November 5.

A representative of the Foreign Ministry of Germany called the position of the EU on this issue “clear”, as independence of these regions haven’t been recognized by any country of the European Union, or by any country partner of the EU New policy.

In his turn, Stefan Eriksson, Ambassador of Sweden which is presiding in the European Union, called the position of Minsk that still hasn’t recognized independence of the breakaway republics “wise”. The diplomat noted that it is a right of Belarus to adopt any decision on this issue.

Karl-Georg Wellman, a Bundestag deputy, underlined that the EU condemned the way chosen by Russia to solve territorial conflicts. “I doubt that recognition of correctness of such Russian policy by Belarus would be reasonable,” the German deputy said as quoted by BelaPAN.

Source: Charter97