EU eyes talks with Belarus on closer ties: officials

(BRUSSELS) - European Union nations will next week approve talks on boosting cooperation with Belarus, and refrain from enforcing a travel ban on its leaders, EU officials said Friday.

EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday, will affirm that the 27-nation bloc "stands ready to take steps towards upgrading contractual relations with Belarus," according to a draft statement.

The move is subject to Belarus improving democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as the EU strives to keep pressure on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko -- dubbed "Europe's last dictator" by the United States.

Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republic of 10 million people since 1994 but has now made attempts at greater openness including hiring of a Western PR firm and cautious economic reform.

Under the EU decision, the European Commission "gets the green light to enter into closer discussions with the Belarussian side to work on the potential for closer cooperation," one EU official said.

A year ago, foreign ministers suspended a travel ban on Lukashenko and several associates, imposed after disputed election, in a move to encourage democracy.

Next week, they will extend the travel ban for a year but refrain from enforcing it for that year, as a further incentive for reform in Belarus.

An arms embargo and financial penalties remain in place.

The shifts in Lukashenko's policies have been greeted less warmly by his traditional ally Moscow, which was surprised this year when Belarus criticised a regional security plan.