This week the government of Sweden will give the Swedish development co-operation agency, Sida, an instruction to work out the details for scholarship programme for Belarusian students in the coming months, realised together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.
Poland and Sweden are both deeply concerned about the political situation in Belarus. The democratisation process and promotion of civil society in Belarus are important priorities for us.
The Swedish and Polish Prime ministers discussed the situation in Belarus in March in Stockholm and the specific difficulties for young people and students, in particular those expelled from Belarusian universities and high schools. By providing Belarusian students the possibility to study in Sweden and Poland, both governments wish to contribute to democratic development and transition to a market economy in Belarus. The Swedish and Polish Ministers of Foreign Affairs have therefore decided to co-operate within the framework of a programme providing scholarships for Belarusian students and to give them a possibility to study in Poland and/or Sweden.
