site.btaBulgaria Favours Sanctions against Those Responsible for Election Tampering and Repression in Belarus

Brussels, September 21 (BTA) - Bulgaria favours sanctions
against those who are responsible for tampering with the
presidential elections in Belarus and for the repression against
 the country's peaceful population, Foreign Minister Ekaterina
Zaharieva told the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on
Monday. Zaharieva called for dialogue with all legitimate
representatives of civil society in Belarus, not just the
Coordination Council for the Transfer of Power.

The proposed imposition of sanctions against Belarus was
supported by most EU foreign ministers during the meeting which
discussed the situation in the former Soviet republic, among
other matters. The issue will also be discussed by EU leaders at
 a Special European Council later this week.

The EU foreign ministers further considered the prospects for
restarting the political process in Libya under the UN's
auspices in implementation of the conclusions of the Berlin
Conference in January. Zaharieva underscored the need for the EU
 and the UN to appoint special envoys to Libya promptly in order
 to institutionalize the diplomatic efforts of the international
 community.

During a discussion on the EU's relations with the African
Union, Bulgaria chief diplomat noted that the EU should
encourage the social and economic development of the African
countries and help improve the education and employment
opportunities for the continent's young people so that they can
contribute to the development of their respective societies and
refrain from migrating.

At a working lunch, the foreign ministers had an informal
discussion on the EU's relations with the Southern
Neighbourhood. Zaharieva said it is in the EU's strategic
interests to help all countries in the region achieve peace,
economic progress and development. She urged a reestablishment
of the EU-Israel Association Council. NV/VE