France protests travel block on children
Published: Dec. 31, 2004 at 3:52 PM
MINSK, Belarus, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- France has urged Belarus not to limit the freedom of Belarussian children to travel abroad, Interfax-West news agency said Friday.
The French ambassador to Belarus, Stefan Szmelevski, told Interfax-West he hoped the new measures limiting Belarussian children's opportunities to travel abroad for recreation would not be implemented.
"Statements to this effect have impressed European civil society and aroused deep misunderstandings," the French diplomat said.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has told parliament that programs to take the nation's children to health resorts abroad should be curtailed.
"Don't you see the change in our children after their return from abroad? How can this way of life benefit us? Here in Belarus, consumerism has infected the younger generation and the whole nation. We don't need this method of raising children," Lukashenko said. "This practice must be done away with once and for all," he said.
The French ambassador to Belarus, Stefan Szmelevski, told Interfax-West he hoped the new measures limiting Belarussian children's opportunities to travel abroad for recreation would not be implemented.
"Statements to this effect have impressed European civil society and aroused deep misunderstandings," the French diplomat said.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has told parliament that programs to take the nation's children to health resorts abroad should be curtailed.
"Don't you see the change in our children after their return from abroad? How can this way of life benefit us? Here in Belarus, consumerism has infected the younger generation and the whole nation. We don't need this method of raising children," Lukashenko said. "This practice must be done away with once and for all," he said.
© 2004 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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