Deputy FM: EU funds should be used to support Belarus

"We are hoping the voice (of Poland) in the European Council about the financial support to Belarus will also be heard. The EU has an instrument in the form of the 'European Endowment for Democracy', which can be used to send financial support to democratic and independent groups. We would like such a signal to be sent from the perspective of the leadership of the EU so that other countries would follow suit," Marcin Przydacz, deputy foreign minister said in a committee meeting in Poland's parliament adding Poland would like such a signal to be sent from the perspective of the leadership of the EU.

Last Friday (August 14), Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland will seek to further support its neighbour Belarus by opening its borders and labour market while providing financial support to civil society.

Przydacz also said on Monday that "Poland sends a concrete signal on how we see it (financial help for Belarus). That's why our prime minister speaks in Sejm about the next millions (of zlotys) to give an example to our European partners. EU funds can also be spent on such a cause through various programmes like 'Eastern Partnership' for example."

Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, said on Monday he would be willing to hand over power after a referendum, in an apparent bid to pacify mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge to his 26 years in office.

He made the offer, which he insisted would not be delivered on while he was under pressure from protesters, after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.

"We reach out our hand and the EU also reaches out its hand to Belarus, but it is up to Belarusians to decide which direction they want their country to go. I have an impression that through these protests and by shouting out their disagreement they tell us what kind of Belarus they for sure do not want and therefore we can interpret from it what (Belarus) they would like to have," Poland's deputy foreign minister stressed.

Crowds gathered in Warsaw on Sunday (August 16) to show their support for protesters in Belarus who are demanding President Alexander Lukashenko step down after what they say was a fraudulent re-election a week ago.

Several hundred people formed kilometres-long human chain, standing 1.5 metres from each other. They occupied four major streets in the centre of the Polish capital.

People held flags and banners bearing slogans such as "Free Belarus" and "Stop the Violence" and portraits of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenko's rival in the election.

Earlier on Sunday, Belarusians chanting "Step down!" had filled the centre of the capital Minsk in the biggest protest so far against his re-election a week ago.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki discussed the situation in Belarus on Sunday with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel, the Polish government spokesperson said in a tweet.

The EU took the first step on Friday (August 14) toward imposing new sanctions on Belarus over the disputed election and a crackdown on protests that followed, instructing its foreign policy arm to prepare a blacklist of responsible individuals.

Lukashenko, who has led Belarus for 26 years, denies electoral fraud.