MINSK, August 16. /TASS/. No one is laying down any conditions to Belarus on how the forthcoming presidential elections should be organized, Belarusian Foreign Minister Valdimir Makey said on Sunday, commenting on the West’s attitudes towards the presidential polls due in Belarus on October 11.
"No one is imposing any conditions concerning the elections. And on one has the right to, as a matter of fact," he told the national ONT television. "We are a sovereign state and organize elections in line with our national laws and our international liabilities."
He said he was confident the elections would be "transparent and open and there will be no problems with their organization." The minister stressed that his country was interested in normalizing relations with the European Union as soon as possible. "We expect that sooner or later it will finally happen. And it will be beneficial for both the region, the country and our partners," he underscored.
EU commissioner for expansion and neighborhood policy, Johannes Han, who visited Belarus in late June, said the European Union was expecting transparent and fair presidential elections in Belarus.
Belarus’ Central Election Commission has registered initiative groups of eight potential candidates for president. Among the candidates are incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, leader of the United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Sergei Gaidukevich, and leaders of the Belarusian leftist party Fair World Sergei Kalyakin. Currently, the initiative groups are collecting signatures for the nomination of their candidates.