Brussels has not changed its stance on Belarus, head of EU mission says

The European Union’s stance on the situation in Belarus remains unchanged, Maira Mora, head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, told BelaPAN on Friday, commenting on her own remarks aired by state television channel ONT on Monday.

Speaking during the channel’s news show “Delo Printsipa” (Matter of Principle), which focused on the crisis in Ukraine, Ms. Mora said, “The Belarusians, you’re peaceful people, support your president, so that your neighboring country is not longer at war.”

The remarks sparked a barrage of criticism from Belarusian opposition forces.

In an interview with BelaPAN, Ms. Mora explained that she had merely urged the Belarusian public to be on the same page with its president regarding Ukraine. “An astounding number of Belarusians have a totally different view of what is going on in their neighboring country,” she said. “As for the EU’s stance on the situation in Belarus, including human rights issues, it has not changed.”