STRASBOURG, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has said Belarus must pass laws to abolish capital punishment before the county can be admitted to assembly sessions.

The Assembly passed a resolution on Tuesday banning Belarus's participation as a "special guest" at PACE meetings until the death penalty is abolished.

Belarus received "special guest status" in 1993. However, in 1996 PACE froze its status due to changes in Belarusian law, giving President Alexander Lukashenko more powers over the national parliament. After presidential elections in 1997, PACE cancelled Belarus's status, over alleged election fraud.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, has moved to rebuild ties with the West, freeing several political prisoners last year in line with EU demands.

The European Union has suspended its travel ban on the Belarusian leader, and the country has been invited to join the EU's Eastern Partnership program, seen by many an effort to curb Russia's influence on six former Soviet republics - Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and Belarus - included in the scheme.

Earlier in June, the Belarusian president described cooperation with the EU as "part of a strategic plan."