2002 press releases

Delay in Resolving OSCE-Belarus Dispute Is Not an Option (October 3, 2002)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Press reports indicate that OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martin da Cruz and Belarusian Foreign Minister Khostov agreed over two weeks ago to undertake consultations in order to resolve the impasse over the Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG).

This agreement is particularly timely and urgent in view of the fact that the accreditation of the last remaining international member of the AMG expires at the end of October.

We would, therefore, welcome details you can provide on progress achieved in these consultations towards resolving the problem that the OSCE faces with Belarus over the future of an OSCE presence in Minsk.

Right of Reply:

As previously noted, the accreditation of the AMG's only remaining international member expires at the end of October. A decision by Belarus at that time to expel this individual would effectively close the mission and contravene the decision adopted by this Permanent Council in 1997, which created the AMG.

This would represent an extraordinary development. Continued delay in resolving this matter is not an option. Absent the ability of Belarus to negotiate a resolution here in Vienna, we urge the Chair to consider extraordinary further steps.