Belarus to Suspend Participation in EU Eastern Partnership Initiative

Belarus has decided to suspend its participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative, the press service of the republic's foreign ministry said in a statement. Earlier, the press service reported that in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Belarus on Monday, the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, Dirk Schuebel, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic. "The diplomat was informed about concrete steps within the framework of a forced response to actions (by the EU - ed.) that threaten the national security of Belarus and cause direct damage to its economy and citizens," the statement says. It emphasizes in particular that the Republic of Belarus is suspending its participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative. Belarus is starting to implement the procedure for suspending the readmission agreement with the European Union, the press service of the republic’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Earlier, the press service reported that in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Belarus on Monday, the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, Dirk Schuebel, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic. The diplomat was informed about concrete steps taken by Minsk in response to actions by the EU. According to him, Belarus states with deep regret that "the forced suspension of the agreement will negatively affect interaction with the European Union in the fight against illegal migration and organized crime."