EU Reiterates Support For Belarus Opposition

Alyaksandr Milinkevich pictured through the bars of a Minsk prison in which he was jailed in April for organizing an unsanctioned protest rally (Bymedia.net) September 19, 2006 -- Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen today reiterated the EU's support for democratic forces in Belarus by meeting with the Belarusian opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich.

the main objective of the meeting was to show "the support of the EU to the opposition in Belarus," according to Vanhanen's spokeswoman, Sanna Kangasharju.

Finland currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

Milinkevich gave his full backing to EU sanctions that ban key members of the Belarusian government from traveling to EU territories.

(AFP)