“The EU must not approach the Belarus question in an impromptu manner, but according to a clear and comprehensive strategy”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared in Brussels prior to a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.

In a video message provided to Hungarian news agency MTI, Mr. Szijjártó said it is important for the European Union to prepare a plan with relation to Belarus that is effective from an economic, political and security perspective alike. “The plan must be such that it provides long-term support to the country, not just campaign-like assistance”, he stated.

Based on his meeting on Monday with head of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who has fled the country for Lithuania, and other Hungarian and Central European experiences, Hungary continues to support the proposal that the EU should develop its plan to assist Belarus with the leadership of Poland, he highlighted.

The Minister said Hungary has already begun providing assistance in the form of support for the Belarusian Catholic Church. In his statement, Mr. Szijjártó reminded the press that Catholic Archbishop of Minsk Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz has not been allowed to return home to Belarus from Poland since 31 August. “The presence of Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz could facilitate a peaceful solution, and accordingly Hungary is continuing to call for the Archbishop to be allowed to re-enter the country. He should be allowed to lead the Catholic Church, and to lead and care for the community that has been entrusted to him”, he stated.

Mr. Szijjártó declared that the European Union should take joint action with a strong voice with relation to this issue. “Because in a Christian Europe it cannot be allowed for a Catholic leader to be banned from his own country”, the Minister added.

There have been continuous protests in Belarus since the presidential elections on 9 August. The protestors are accusing head of state Aljakszandr Lukasenka of rigging the election, in view of which they are demanding his resignation.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)