EU eases sanctions against top Belarus officials

The European Union has temporarily lifted a travel ban on the president of Belarus, a country regarded as Europe's last dictatorship, as relations start to thaw.

The decision comes as ties between the European Union and Russia are strained over Russia's war with Georgia in August. The Kremlin objects to other former Soviet republics moving closer to the West, but it is unlikely EU-Belarus relations will soon warm enough to become a problem for Moscow.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the EU's primary goal was for Belarus to improve human rights and institute democratic reforms.

"We have to show that progress is being rewarded," Ferrero-Waldner said.

The EU imposed sanctions on President Alexander Lukashenko and 40 other Belarusian officials in 1999 after crackdowns on the political opposition.

Lukashenko has recently tried to improve ties with the West, releasing two opposition figures - just as he is arguing with Russia over energy prices. He also allowed the opposition to participate in parliamentary elections, though not a single opposition member won a seat.

Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the opposition United Civil Party, opposed lifting the sanctions.

"Europe has started playing with Lukashenko in trying to drag Belarus away from Russia, but I don't think that it will lead to any improvements of the situation with democracy in Belarus," he said.

The Belarus government refused immediate comment.

Monday's decision leaves bans in place against six people, including some said to be involved in the disappearances of four notable opposition leaders.

EU member Finland holds the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In that capacity, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb has called for better cooperation.

"Things are improving, but they are far, far, far from perfect," Stubb said Monday.

He said it was too early to unfreeze the assets of a number of top Belarus officials, including Lukashenko.

The EU also dropped a travel ban on Uzbek officials imposed after a bloody crackdown on an uprising in 2005, saying the central Asian country had made some progress in improving human rights.

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Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Minsk contributed to this article.