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EU Parliament seeks to move hockey championship from Belarus

Resolutions of the European Parliament are not binding, but recommendatory

BRUSSELS, March 29 (Itar-Tass) — The European Parliament adopted on Thursday a resolution on Belarus, in which it urged to move the Ice Hockey World Championship from Belarus. The voting on the resolution took place ahead of a parliamentary session in the Belgian capital.

European parliamentarians appealed to the national hockey federations of the EU member states and all other democratic countries to urge the International Ice Hockey Federation to reverse the decision on the 2014 championship and move the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship from Belarus to another host country.

The European Parliament has demanded an unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners as a condition for letting Belarus host the championship.

Resolutions of the European Parliament are not binding, but recommendatory. Nevertheless, EU countries and institutions usually lend an ear to them.

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