From: Exit Staff
EU Supports OSCE CiO Edi Rama’s Proposal to Mediate in Belarus Crisis  

The European Council fully supports the OSCE proposal for the current and incoming chair-in-persons, Edi Rama and Ann Linde, to mediate in the Belarus crisis between the government and opposition.

“The EU fully supports OSCE proposals for dialogue in Belarus and is ready to provide assistance to further them,” the heads of European states noted in their conclusions from the Wednesday meeting.

This week, the Albanian and Swedish ministers of foreign affairs, Rama and Linde offered to help on behalf of the OSCE this week.

The European Council condemned the last elections in Belarus for being neither fair nor free, and stressed that the EU does not recognize the results.

They also condemned the violence and arrests, and announced incoming sanctions for those responsible.

The council noted that Belarus has put at risk its relationship with the EU, and called on authorities there to find a way out of the crisis through democratic means.