The European Union reached out to six former Soviet republics on Thursday at summit aimed at drawing them closer to its orbit. EU leaders said the new “Eastern Partnership” will benefit both the bloc as a whole and individual members on a bilateral basis. Not surprisingly, Moscow views the EU outreach as a challenge to its sphere of influence.
The EU's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, told RFE/RL on May 7 that the absence of the Belarusian and Moldovan presidents from the Eastern Partnership summit in Prague does not mean the countries do not want to cooperate with the EU.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas spoke with RFE/RL correspondent Ahto Lobjakas on the sidelines of the European Union's Eastern Partnership Summit in Prague on April 7. He talked about the program's goals, how it might be perceived in Moscow, and the partnership's enfant terrible in Minsk. What follows are excerpts of that discussion.
Representatives of the 27 member states of the EU and six ex-Soviet partner countries are gathering in Prague for an Eastern Partnership launch summit. The Eastern Partnership represents the EU's most ambitious Eastern European outreach effort since enlargement and is seen by most member states as an instrument for counterbalancing Russian influence in the region. RFE/RL Brussels correspondent Ahto Lobjakas offers his perspective on some key aspects of the plan ahead of the May 7 meeting.
The launch today of the EU's Eastern Partnership with six ex-Soviet republics takes the bloc into uncharted waters. Having run into stiff Russian resistance, the project will test EU resolve as it continues to promote reforms and stability beyond its eastern borders.
Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is back and buoyant, with big ideas and a five-year-old heir. And hints that he might offer government jobs to political opponents could prove the only bright spot for detractors, as Europe appears to embrace an authoritarian leader without reforming him in the least.
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his campaign of wooing the West.
Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, long criticized as authoritarian in the West, said he could give suitably qualified opposition figures government jobs and make other political reforms demanded by Europe if this does not hurt the economy.
Inspired by The Atlantic's mock "World Leaders" Facebook group, RFE/RL presents a Facebook-style summary of last week's events.
A report by the U.S.-based watchdog Freedom House says the global financial crisis is having a negative impact on freedom of the press. Released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the report indicates that the crisis is providing oppressive governments with new tools to tighten their grip on the media.
An organizer of the European Union's Eastern Partnership summit in Prague told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will not attend the May 7 event.
Roman reportedly had been summoned by the KGB by telephone reportedly but had responded that he would appear only if summoned in an official subpoena.
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!["If someone starts nudging me towards [reforms], I will take a good look," says Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.](https://gdb.rferl.org/C8B18531-8C18-4FE1-AD39-A80A70DBDFA7_w100_r1.jpg)
!["If someone starts nudging me towards [reforms], I will take a good look," says Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.](https://gdb.rferl.org/C8B18531-8C18-4FE1-AD39-A80A70DBDFA7_w66_r1.jpg)
