Prime Minister meets European Council President

Meetings between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy have ended. The two politicians held talks with the Belarusian opposition and representatives of participants of the Civil Society conference.

The head of the Polish government expressed appreciation for the European Union’s involvement in the Belarusian situation as well as the role of the Eastern Partnership in the democratisation process taking place in participating countries.

‘This is an unprecedented situation attesting to the fact that the European Union and its authorities treat the situation seriously,’ Prime Minister Tusk said in reference to the EU’s efforts in the Belarusian case. According to the Prime Minister, the solidarity-minded collaboration of all opposition groups raises hopes that the democratisation process will succeed. The head pf the Polish government reiterated that no concessions or gestures would be possible until all that country’s political prisoners were freed.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy made a similar declaration. ‘We cannot become involved in aid to Belarus without seeing clear progress in respect for human rights in that country, and that means the immediate release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners as well as the start of genuine political dialogue with the opposition.’

As regards the Eastern Partnership Summit getting under way, Prime Minister Tusk said that the efforts being undertaken within the Partnership are drawing its participating countries closer to Europe. ‘The Partnership has turned out to be an effective project indeed,’ he summed up.