EU-DIGEST

Iran, Belarus to set up joint economic commission

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy agreed in a meeting on Thursday in Minsk to establish a joint economic commission in order to expand relations. Mottaki and his political-economic delegation arrived in the Belarusian capital on Thursday. “Iran-Belarus relations have always been progressing, based on mutual respect and common interests,” Mottaki said, adding that the two states’ political bodies were determined to “expand and deepen relations.”

Labels: Belarus, Iran

Ice Hockey: Finland, Sweden open Ice Hockey Worlds with victories

Finland shook the rust off and the Swedes survived a scare as the favorites managed to prevail at the World Ice Hockey Championships on Saturday. Mikko Koivu scored a shorthanded and a power play goal as reigning silver medallist Finland beat Germany 5-1 in their opening game at the Metro Centre arena.Sweden survived the biggest scare of the day. Patric Hornqvist scored two goals as the Tre Kronor had to rally in the third period to beat underdog Belarus 6-5 at the Colisee in Quebec City. Rickard Wallin scored the winner with just under 10 minutes to go in the third period for Sweden who outshot Belarus 46-24 in the game. Dmitry Meleshko scored to give Belarus a 5-4 lead early in the third period.

Labels: Belarus, EU, Finland, Germany, Ice Hockey, Sweden

EU Beacon of hope for Belarus - Belarusian opposition activists march through Minsk calling for closer ties to Europe

Thousands of Belarusian opposition activists shouting "freedom" marched through the center of the capital Sunday to pressure authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to move Belarus closer to Europe. "We want to live by the laws of Europe, not by the laws of dictatorship," opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich told about 5,000 people who had gathered on a square near the Academy of Sciences for what was called the European March.

"We will be protesting like this until we win and until we are free," he told the crowd.

Labels: Belarus, Democracy, EU