The French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, pleaded Monday, September 21 that the sanctions against Belarus are not linked to those that may possibly target Turkey.
This link made by Cyprus prevented on Monday the adoption by the 27 EU foreign ministers of sanctions against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko.
Read also: Greece, helped by France, rearms against Turkey
“
We understand the Cypriot anguish, but I think we have to unblock this, untie this link.
We must be able to move forward on the sanctions against Belarus, this does not weaken Europe, on the contrary,
”Clément Beaune told the press in Brussels.
While the sanctions against Belarus are ready, Clément Beaune underlined that the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean was "
durably difficult
".
“
This is not a situation that will be resolved in a few days,
” he added.
Referring to the sanctions against Ankara, Clément Beaune stressed that it would depend "
on signals, on Turkey's desire for dialogue
".
The European Union has prepared sanctions against some 40 people found responsible for the repression in Belarus, but the unanimity of the 27 is necessary for their adoption.
However, Cyprus still makes its agreement conditional on the adoption of measures to force Turkey to cease its gas drilling in the waters of its economic zone.
The thorny issue of sanctions will now be on the menu for the summit on Thursday and Friday which brings together the 27 European leaders in Brussels.
