2002 press releases

Department of State Official to OSCE Reinforced Permanent Council (October 18, 2002)

....As I noted during my last appearance here, however, we also believe that OSCE missions and field operations could play a more active role in implementing agreed OSCE activities in the security and economic dimensions. Some states, including Tajikistan and Ukraine, have worked cooperatively with the Chair this year to address concerns and modify as appropriate their mandates to meet current needs.

Belarus, in contrast, has expelled international members of an OSCE field presence and absolutely refused to negotiate with the OSCE Chair or this Permanent Council. As recently as yesterday, Belarus advised that it would not entertain negotiations on a future OSCE presence until the Permanent Council adopted a decision formally closing the AMG. This announcement contravenes the position conveyed by Belarusian Foreign Minister Khovstov who in New York only a month ago informed Chairman-in-Office Portuguese Foreign Minister da Cruz that he would instruct the Permanent Representative of Belarus to negotiate an immediate resolution of this problem. Mr. Chairman, this matter is no longer about respect for the views of a host State, but rather respect of a participating State for the principles of this organization and the decisions of this Permanent Council. Such conduct in contravention of OSCE principles and decisions undermines the integrity of this organization and is unacceptable. Mr. Chairman we urge you to dispatch a senior level visit to Minsk for the purpose of negotiating a resolution of this matter. Absent a functioning mission, we request you place discussion of developments in Belarus on the PC agenda until this matter is resolved. Unless Belarus engages in a constructive dialogue with the Chair, there will be further consequences for our bilateral relations. In the run-up to the Oporto Ministerial, this Permanent Council and its respective Participating States, need also to consider the mechanisms, processes, and instruments at our disposal to address this issue. In closing on this matter, we, once again, urge President Lukashenko to change course.....