European Union Engages with Belarus, Lifts 5-year Sanctions

European Union (EU) decided to help Belarus rather than isolate the country. Belarus was a previous Soviet state and a big ally to Russia. Nowadays, the government is seeking to improve its image internationally and EU is there to help them as they lift the five year sanction they gave the country.

The European Union decided to lift Belarus and President Alexander Lukashenko's five-year sanctions on Monday. Reuters noted that it was because the country is trying to improve on its human rights. The things Lukashenko is doing like being the middle man in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, freeing political prisoners and the peaceful elections held last October were the reason why EU decided to end sanctions. Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko also denied acknowledging Russia's power over Ukraine and that is a big step for them as they rely heavily with Russia.

According to Yahoo News, EU officials aren't expecting Belarus to change its ways overnight. They are gradually changing and that's what matters for the European Union. Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said they are doing this because they can see that Belarus is extending its hand to other countries and they will help. EU foreign affairs Chief Federica Mogherini said that they have agreed on the fact that Belarus is changing some of its ways and they want to encourage those things further.

Daily Mail reported that the sanctions will effectively end on March 1. There were 170 people who were sanctioned and one of them is the president himself together with three companies. However not all sanctions was lifted. The European Union did not lift the sanctions on four men for another year. They were suspected of being behind the disappearances of two opposition politicians, a businessman, and a journalist.

European Union will help Belarus economically. They will help them join World Trade Organization. They want Belarussian companies to develop more as they will be qualified for financing from European Investment Bank and the European Bank.

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European Union, Belarus, Russia, Belarus sanctions, EU lifts 5-year sanctions, President Alexander Lukashenko, Ukraine-Russia peace talks

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