PM Xavier Bettel Discusses Bilateral Relations and Human Rights with Belarus PM

Yesterday, on 26 October 2017, Luxembourg Prime Minister and Minister of State Xavier Bettel received Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Kobiakov for an interview at the Hotel de Bourgogne.

The visit made it possible to take stock of the bilateral relations between Belarus and Luxembourg. In this regard, Xavier Bettel welcomed the presence of a large Belarusian economic delegation, reflecting Belarus' desire to intensify trade relations with Luxembourg.

During the interview, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel discussed the human rights situation in Belarus, including the application of the death penalty. The Prime Minister recalled that Luxembourg supports the EU's request for a moratorium on capital punishment in Belarus with the aim of abolishing it.

Bettel commented that: "Belarus is the last country to apply the death penalty in Europe". He added that changes in this domain would be necessary in order to bring the country in line with the EU’s values.