{"id":127187,"date":"2021-06-01T17:52:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T17:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=127187"},"modified":"2021-06-01T17:52:14","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T17:52:14","slug":"exclusive-eu-to-blacklist-belarus-airline-ahead-of-economic-sanctions-diplomats-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/markets\/exclusive-eu-to-blacklist-belarus-airline-ahead-of-economic-sanctions-diplomats-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive-EU to blacklist Belarus airline ahead of economic sanctions, diplomats say"},"content":{"rendered":"
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is preparing sanctions on Belarus\u2019 national airline and around a dozen top Belarusian aviation officials, three diplomats said, a stop-gap measure before economic sanctions following the forced landing of a passenger plane.<\/p> The proposed asset freezes and travel bans are part of a package of new sanctions on Belarus from EU states, which are outraged that a Ryanair flight was pressed to land in Minsk on May 23 to arrest a dissident journalist and his girlfriend.<\/p>\n EU governments, which described the incident as state piracy, say they are looking at targeting sectors that play a central role in the Belarus economy, to inflict real punishment on President Alexander Lukashenko. They could include bond sales, the oil sector and potash, a big Belarusian export.<\/p>\n Before imposing such economic sanctions, the bloc is expected to agree by June 21 – when EU foreign ministers meet – a smaller sanctions list on individuals and two entities as a quick, intermediary response, the diplomats said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll EU states agree with this approach,\u201d one diplomat said. A second diplomat said there would be \u201ca clear signal for Lukashenko that his actions were dangerous and unacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n While the sanctions are still under discussion, EU ambassadors as early as Friday could pre-approve banning overflights and landing in EU territory by Belarus airlines, allowing EU ministers to formally sign off on them later in the month.<\/p>\n Britain, no longer part of the EU, has suspended the air permit for Belarus\u2019 national carrier, Belavia. The EU is expected to do the same, the diplomats said.<\/p>\n The names are expected to include top Belarus\u2019 defence and transport ministry officials, military from the airforce, a top Minsk airport official and a senior civil aviation official, the diplomats said.<\/p>\n Also to be blacklisted and banned from business with the EU is another state-owned enterprise from the aviation sector.<\/p>\n More details were not immediately available. The EU does not comment publicly on ongoing preparations for sanctions.<\/p>\n Lukashenko said last week the journalist pulled off the plane had been plotting a rebellion, and he accused the West of waging a hybrid war against him.<\/p>\n Since cracking down on pro-democracy protests last year, he has withstood three previous rounds of EU sanctions and comparable U.S. measures – mainly blacklists that bar officials from travelling to or doing business in Europe and the United States.<\/p>\n EU foreign ministers said last week that fresh sanctions would include a fourth round of travel bans and asset freezes linked to a disputed presidential election in Belarus last August. The around a dozen names are separate and directly linked to the Ryanair incident.<\/p>\nAVIATION SECTOR<\/h2>\n