Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Friday, 7 January 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 January 2011. It was answered by David Lidington (Conservative) on Wednesday, 12 January 2011 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Belarus: Elections

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the recent presidential election in Belarus.

Answer: The UK is at the forefront of efforts within the EU and the wider international community to bring pressure on the Belarusian authorities to release the political prisoners. We have been vocal in advocating a tough EU response, including looking at re-imposing targeted sanctions. I have discussed Belarus with some of my EU counterparts and encouraged EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the right hon. Baroness Ashton, to issue a strongly worded statement. A joint EU-US statement was released on 23 December 2010.

Secondary information