(MINSK) - Opposition members in Belarus Monday urged President Alexander Lukashenko to respond to the EU's suspension of a travel ban against him by instituting democratic reforms.

The European Union "made a move and the ball is now in Lukashenko's court", the vice president of the Popular Front, Viktor Ivashkevich, told AFP.

"We should make him react to this advance," said Ivashkevich.

EU foreign ministers on Monday temporarily lifted a travel ban on Lukashenko and several of his associates in a move designed to encourage democracy in the wake of disputed elections in the former Soviet republic.

Forty-one Belarussian figures, including the hardline president, were denied entry into the EU and had their assets frozen after a 2006 presidential election was judged not to comply with international norms.

"Lukashenko has done nothing to deserve the right to go to Europe," said Anatoly Lebedeko, the leader of the United Civil Party.

Lebedeko applauded the temporary nature of the EU suspension, however. It will be re-examined in six months.

"This will allow Europe to save face if nothing changes," he said.

Opposition members hoped no further repressive measures would be taken against Belarussian media and that opposition newspapers would once again appear in kiosks.

They also called for an end to criminal investigations of members of unregistered non-governmental organisations.

While Lukashenko -- in power since 1994 and dubbed "Europe's last dictator" by Washington -- is newly authorised to travel into and around the EU, the freeze on assets remains.

The Belarussian foreign minister, who held talks on the sidelines of the EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, said his country was "interested in having a productive and substantial relationship with the EU."

"We are prepared to work for that," said Serge Martynov, acknowledging that there was work to be done to tackle drug trafficking, among other issues.

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