Very interesting processes are happening on the threshold of the upcoming summit of the EU Eastern partnership project to take place on May 7 in Prague. Specifically, these interesting processes are connected with the participation of Vladimir Voronin, the president of Moldova, and Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus. Both of these countries are participating in the mentioned project. Moldova has officially announced that instead of the president the country will be represented by prime minister Zinaida Grechenaya in the summit. The reason why Moldova will be represented by the PM but not the president is the fact that the inner political situation is tense. As for Lukashenko, who is considered to be a despot in Europe, the officials of Brussels were suspicious whether they should invite him or no. The EU officials have numerously announced that the invitations for participation are sent to countries but not officials of countries. However, last week Karl Swartzenberg, the foreign affairs minister of the EU presiding country Czech Republic, left for Belarus and gave an invitation to Lukashenko last week. Following the invitation the president of Czech announced that he was not going to shake Lukashenko’s hand. Lukashenko petitioned Europe to figure out whether they want to see him during the summit on May 7. There has not been any official answer but the announcements on part of Europe show that Europe does not want to see Lukashenko there. Javier Solana, the EU president on foreign policy, says that he thinks Lukashenko will not take part in the summit. In addition, Solana says that it will be clear whether the president of Belarus will participate in the summit right before May 7.
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