13 February 2003
U.S. OSCE Envoy Urges Belarus to Correct Electoral "Deficiencies"
(Minikes to the OSCE Permanent Council on February 13) (630)
U.S. Ambassador Stephan Minikes welcomed the restoration of the OSCE's
presence in Belarus and hailed it as an "opportunity to forge
meaningful progress," but was disappointed by the findings of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly Working Group concerning progress in four areas
of democratization.
Speaking to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna February 13, Minikes
noted that the Working Group recently visited Belarus to assess
progress in election legislation, strengthened functions for the
Parliament, media freedom, and non-harassment of opposition figures.
Minikes cited some of the Working Group's concerns, particularly the
lack of progress in amending electoral legislation to "reflect
recommendations made previously by international organizations." One
result, he said, is that "lack of participation by the opposition
undermines the legitimacy of the elections."
"We join the Working Group in urging that Belarus dedicate itself in
the time remaining [before the March 2 elections] to addressing the
most immediate deficiencies in the areas of early voting, mobile
voting, and the framework for domestic observation. Such improvements
would mark a significant step forward," he said.
Following is a transcript of Minikes' remarks:
(begin transcript)
United States Mission to the OSCE
Vienna
February 13, 2003
STATEMENT ON BELARUS
Delivered by Ambassador Stephan M. Minikes to the Permanent Council
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We reviewed with interest the press release that emerged from the
recent visit of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Working Group on
Belarus to assess progress on the four criteria on democratization
which were established by the Parliamentary Assembly Troika in 2001.
The purpose of the visit, which was their first this year, was to
assess the progress made on the four criteria including election
legislation, strengthened functions for the Parliament, media freedom,
and non-harassment of opposition figures.
As was indicated in their press release the Working Group met with
government officials and opposition party representatives as well as
with family members of those who have disappeared and been imprisoned
in circumstances that are widely believed to be politically motivated.
On the positive side, the delegation welcomed the restoration of the
OSCE's presence and the appointment of Ambassador Heyken and expressed
the wish that we are now embarked on a stage where a spirit of
cooperation will prevail.
Unfortunately, despite its positive, open disposition to Belarus, the
Working Group also concluded, that the election legislation has not
been amended to reflect recommendations made previously by
international organizations, and that the opposition party
representatives also do not appear to be adequately represented in the
electoral commissions.
We share the Working Group's disappointment that Belarus has not
implemented recommendations on electoral legislation. We also consider
it unfortunate, as the committee did that opposition party
representatives are not adequately represented on the electoral
commissions, and that a significant number of opposition candidates
have been denied registration for what appeared to be minor
violations. This lack of participation by the opposition undermines
the legitimacy of the elections.
Time is short, Mr. Chairman, in the run up to the March 2 local
elections. We join the Working Group in urging that Belarus dedicate
itself in the time remaining to addressing the most immediate
deficiencies in the areas of early voting, mobile voting, and the
framework for domestic observation. Such improvements would mark a
significant step forward.
Also as the Working Group notes, there are few signs that Belarusians
have indeed embarked upon a genuine process of democratization.
However, the restoration of the OSCE's presence represents an
opportunity to forge meaningful progress. We support cooperation with
the OSCE Office in Belarus and with ODIHR in tackling recommendations
to improve the climate for genuine, democratic elections that can be
recognized by the international community in the future.
Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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