MINSK -- Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhey Martynau has arrived in Brussels for a two-day visit to meet with EU officials and discuss bilateral relations.
Martynau is scheduled to meet with the EU "Troika," comprising EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, who represents the EU Presidency.
The EU has been urging Belarusian authorities to improve its record on freedom of speech and human rights so that cooperation between Brussels and Minsk could develop further.
Political analyst Vitaliy Silitski told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service that the issues being discussed during Martynau's visit indicate that there has been some change in EU-Belarus relations. He said that Belarusian authorities are trying to create the impression of "maximum progress" in the country, while e only offering a minimum of real change.
Martynau is scheduled to meet with the EU "Troika," comprising EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, who represents the EU Presidency.
The EU has been urging Belarusian authorities to improve its record on freedom of speech and human rights so that cooperation between Brussels and Minsk could develop further.
Political analyst Vitaliy Silitski told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service that the issues being discussed during Martynau's visit indicate that there has been some change in EU-Belarus relations. He said that Belarusian authorities are trying to create the impression of "maximum progress" in the country, while e only offering a minimum of real change.