Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner led a discussion on the ‘European Union and Belarus: moving closer together?’ whilst on an official visit to Belarus, at the Europe Hotel Minsk, on June 22. She focused on just how this complicated relationship could start to unravel and move forward together. Following the positive news last summer about the release of political prisoners, we were able to suspend the visa ban on some of your political leaders who had previously been restricted from travelling to the EU. Earlier this year we prolonged this suspension until the end of December - a clear and positive gesture of support. But progress appears to have stalled. Whilst the earlier steps Belarus took laid the foundations for a better relationship, they still need to be built on. We are hoping to see new momentum, and a fresh reform effort, that would give us unequivocally clear signals as to Belarus’ intentions. Only this can pave the way for a progressive warming of relations. The European Union’s position she said is a Union of states based on the respect for certain fundamental values: political freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. There is a common belief that these are the values that give people the best quality of life, wherever they live in the world. And it is respect for these universal values which holds the key to economic success. The EU seeks to promote these around the world. And acts on those principles in their relations with other countries; not seeking to coerce or impose, but trying to build a network of friends pursuing common objectives. We want to welcome Belarus into our web of close partnerships; and we hope Belarus will take the decisions that will now allow that to happen, the Commissioner said. We have always made clear our desire for closer relations. In 2004 we invited Belarus to join the European Neighbourhood Policy for regional stability, security and prosperity. Unfortunately the political context in your country did not make it possible for you to join at that time, Ferrero Waldner said in Minsk.