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Verbatim report of proceedings
Thursday, 15 January 2009 - Strasbourg OJ edition

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Text tabled : RC-B6-0028/2009

  Koenraad Dillen (NI) , in writing. (NL) I have voted in favour of this resolution. The European Parliament welcomes the fact that the restrictions on the freedom of the press have been relaxed somewhat in Belarus and that a few political prisoners have been released. It has also been pointed out, though, that other dissidents are still behind bars. In order to improve relations, this resolution argues that Belarus should become a country without political prisoners, that the government should guarantee the free expression of opinion, and so on. Legislation should also be changed and Belarusians should be given freedom of movement.

Even though everyone is in favour of this, I should like to put the following to you. Should the European Parliament not open these resolutions up to countries with which Europe does maintain cordial relations? China springs to mind, where the human rights situation is at least as dramatic as in Belarus. Or is it perhaps commercial considerations that stop us from doing this?

 
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