BELARUS-EU-RELATIONS

Brussels/Minsk, August 11 (Interfax) – EU countries will revise the standard of their diplomatic relations with Belarus, head of the EU Political and Security Committee Olof Skoog told the press on Friday.

The situation that has evolved in the relations between Sweden and Belarus concerns not only these two countries, but will affect the relations of Belarus with the EU, he said.

On Friday the committee held a special session in Brussels to discuss reply measures to the expulsion of the Swedish embassy from Belarus. It adopted a resolution saying that before October 31, 2012 the EU will revise restrictive measures with regard to Belarus given the diplomatic scandal with Sweden.

The EU intends to review its restrictive measures with regard to Belarus before October 31, and agreed that considering a broader context of relations between the EU and Belarus the latest developments around the Swedish ambassador will also be taken into account, the Belarusian web media said reporting the committee resolution adopted on Friday.

After the committee meeting Skoog told reporters that all participants in the session had spoken out in support of Sweden and also backed the August 3 statement of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton expressing serious concern about the situation.

[UA BY EUROPE EEU EMRG DIP]

16:28:54 EET-2