Council of EU decides to suspend sanctions against Belarus for 4 months

The Council of the European Union made a decision to suspend sanctions against Belarus for the period of four months, France’s Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir said on Monday.

Desir said the decision was made to suspend restrictive measures for the nearest four months. According to available information, restrictive measures’ suspension covers only the list of individuals and legal entities while the embargo on weapons will remain in effect.

Desir said sanctions may become effective again anytime if it is justified. He added the decision taken makes possible to concurrently keep sanctions against Belarus but suspend their effect.

EU sanctions against Belarus comprise the list of about 150 individuals, including its president Alexander Lukashenko, who are banned from visiting the EU and whose assets in European banks are subjected to freezing. 

Sanctions also provide for a weapons embargo and a ban on supplying police and dual-purpose equipment to Belarus.
  [tass.ru]
  12/10/15
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Related:

• Reuters quoted diplomatic sources as saying the EU is prepared to lift sanctions, at least temporarily, against the cash-strapped Lukashenko government if the report warrants doing so. 

• Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko won a fifth term in office by a landslide on Sunday in an election that could see an easing of relations with the West and raise questions about his ties to Vladimir Putin’s Russia... 

• The European Union has decided to suspend sanctions against Belarus for four months, but is ready to re-impose them at any time if needed, French Minister of state for European affairs Harlem Desir said Monday....