First Euronest assembly starts without Belarus

PanARMENIAN.Net - The inaugural meeting of the European Parliament's Eastern Partnership, or Euronest, has taken place in Brussels.

Euronest's role is to provide a parliamentary forum to the Eastern Partnership, part of the EU's Neighborhood Policy.

Legislators from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine attended the meeting.

The European Union has decided to temporarily suspend Belarus from Euronest as part of the sanctions on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime following the violent crackdown against protesters after December's disputed presidential election.

According to meeting results, Kristian Vigenin, a Bulgarian member of the European Parliament, will co-preside over Euronest together with the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Borys Tarasyuk.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek attended the event, RFE/RL reported.