The European Union on Monday lifted a travel ban on Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey in order to "facilitate diplomatic contacts," while maintaining other sanctions against him and fellow regime members, dpa reported. The decision, taken during a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, did not reflect a change in the EU's policy towards Beluarus, they said in a statement. "The EU maintains its policy of critical engagement with Belarus, including its policy of sanctions, with a view to furthering the respect for "human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles in Belarus," they wrote. The EU has imposed an arms embargo and wide-ranging asset freezes and travel bans in a bid to up the pressure on Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. In October, the bloc decided to extend these sanctions for a further year, in the absence of democratic reforms.
