Liberaal Silver Meikar Vabadusest ja inimõigustest

Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Eduard Kukan agreed on Monday with his Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet, currently on a visit to Slovakia, that the EU

The sanctions should affect only representatives responsiblefor repressive measures taken against the opposition in Belarus. Both Kukan and Paet will present this stance at an EU foreignministers session due to be held in Luxembourg on April 11. "The EU should adopt more stringent measures against Lukashenkoand his regime. At the same time, it has been agreed that thesemeasures should differentiate between ordinary citizens in Belarus onone side, and Lukashenko and the political leadership of the country,responsible for undemocratic behaviour on the other," Kukan saidafter the session. Minister Paet mentioned a list of representatives from Belarus, including Lukashenko himself, who should have their applications forvisas necessary to enter EU territory rejected. In connection with the European Constitutional Treaty, Paet said that the document passed the first reading in the Estonian parliament in February. He expressed his hope that his country`sparliament will approve the European Constitution in the summer to join Slovakia and another 13 EU states. Paet and Kukan agreed that all the EU25 should express a clearstance towards the European Constitution. In spite of the document`srejection in France and the Netherlands last year, Paet said that itis still possible to re-assess such an attitude. Kukan also stated, however, that such a development can hardly be expected, saying thatfurther moves should be decided anyway after a clear stance emergesfrom all EU members. Both ministers praised the positive development of Slovak-Estonian relations and similar attitudes towards many issueson the EU agenda. In view of the fact that Slovakia does not havea direct diplomatic mission in Tallinn, Slovak diplomacy is preparingto open an honorary consulate in Estonia. "We already havea candidate (for honorary consul)," said Kukan. Paet said that his country is interested in using Slovakia`sexperience gained from its non-permanent membership of the U.N.Security Council (2006-07), as Estonia is also due to becomea non-permanent member in 2020. ----

PS: Ehk siis alates eilsest tagasi Eestis, USA reis läks väga hästi korda, aga nüüd on taas aeg oma tööle keskenduda.