2001 press releases

Head of U.S. Mission to OSCE Urges Free and Fair Elections in Belarus (February 15, 2001)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We would like to thank Ambassador Wieck for his report to us this morning and we want to convey once again that he and his mission enjoy the full support and respect of the United States. His skill and experience as a distinguished diplomat have been, and continue to be, tested on a daily basis. All of us around this table appreciate the challenge Ambassador Wieck and his mission face in assisting Belarus -- often in a politically hostile environment -- to develop democratic institutions and to monitor compliance with OSCE commitments as charged by the Advisory and Monitoring Group mandate.

We are pleased to hear from Ambassador Wieck that regular consultations are occurring in accordance with the December 14, 2000 budget decision. Those consultations should continue and so should the Advisory and Monitoring Group's work, including the implementation of its projects.

Ambassador Wieck correctly points out the importance of the 2001 presidential elections. We believe they offer Belarus a key opportunity to restore democracy.

As such, we agree that the Advisory and Monitoring Group's priorities in the coming months should be two-fold. First, to seek improvements in the electoral framework. Second, to monitor, in cooperation with the existing independent election framework, the actual process of the elections.

Who would win elections conducted in accordance with OSCE commitments? Ambassador Wieck rightly answers that this is a matter that only the citizens of Belarus can decide in a free and fair election.

Reliable opinion polls show, however, that the citizens of Belarus want to do just that. They want to elect their next president in free and fair elections that the international community will recognize as such.

The United States will recognize and accept the winner of such free and fair elections as will others. We urge the Belarusian authorities to create the conditions necessary for free and fair elections and to be prepared to accept the results. This includes, among other things, addressing the four criteria of the OSCE Troika. These criteria are entirely consistent with Belarus' OSCE commitments. To meet that goal, however, will require close cooperation with the Advisory and Monitoring Group and with ODIHR.

To take its place in the Euro-Atlantic community of democracies, the Belarusian government must cease persecution of political opponents, account for the disappeared, release political prisoners, respect freedom of assembly and workers rights, grant the opposition access to the state media, cease harassment of the independent media, and implement a democratic electoral law and process. Last week the United States, as well as others, welcomed the release of 13th Supreme Soviet Deputy Vladimir Kudinov from prison. This release offers an opportunity for the Belarusian authorities to start to create the conditions needed for free and fair elections. We look forward to welcoming additional steps in the coming weeks so that this opportunity is not lost.

Thank you.