EU readies Belarus sanctions

The European Union yesterday began the process of imposing sanctions on Belarus and express its support for Greece and Cyprus in their stand-off with Turkey.

Foreign ministers from the 27 member states joined a hastily-arranged video conference hosted by Brussels' diplomatic chief Josep Borrell, European officials told AFP.

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Ahead of the meeting, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for sanctions against those who "violated democratic values... and abused human rights" in Belarus.

In Berlin, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Chancellor Angela Merkel had been shocked by the detention and abuse of peaceful protesters.

The EU has declared the situation in Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has launched a crackdown on protests after his disputed re-election, a "matter of grave concern".

Poland, Latvia and Lithuania say they are ready to act as mediators to try to resolve the post-election crisis, after a poll that Brussels has said was "neither free nor fair".

Belarus' Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said in a call with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis that Minsk is ready "for a constructive and objective dialogue with foreign partners".

The soaring tensions in the eastern Mediterranean will also be high on the agenda, after France dispatched naval vessels and jet fighters to back up Greece and Cyprus.

Longstanding tension between Turkey and EU member state Greece escalated when Ankara resumed energy exploration in the region off the Greek island of Kastellorizo on Monday.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU chief Charles Michel on Thursday and hit out at France's President Emmanuel Macron, who sent warships, accusing him of "putting on a show".