2002 press releases

Head of USOSCE on Denial of Visa Extension to AMG Member (September 11, 2002)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

On September 6, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry denied Human Rights Officer to the Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) Mission in Belarus Meaghan Fitzgerald's request for a visa extension. Belarus did not offer a reason.

For the last eight months, Ms. Fitzgerald has carried out her work as the Human Rights Officer with the highest degree of professional integrity and dedication under extremely difficult and hostile circumstances. It is a loss for Belarus that her services have been rejected.

Belarus stated that it "found no grounds for the extension." Numerous reasons for an extension can be offered. However, the most central reason relates to the deep problems that exist in Belarus. Civil society is under attack. Journalists have been imprisoned and newspapers closed down. Members of NGOs have been assaulted, fined, and imprisoned and government opponents have disappeared. Meanwhile, the presidential election held last year did not meet international standards and, unless serious electoral reforms are adopted and implemented, local elections expected in early 2003 will face the same fate.

The Advisory and Monitoring Group is tasked to help Belarus address these kinds of problems. Concern over these problems will not disappear with the expulsion of another member of the AMG. Rather, in the absence of mission members in place to assist Belarus, it will be necessary to address concerns more directly in the Permanent Council. Since the AMG has not been permitted to report to the Permanent Council, we request the Chair and/or his Special Representative to report more regularly on matters of concern.

Mr. Chairman, it is apparent the impasse over the AMG cannot be resolved in Vienna alone. Your Special Representative on Belarus, Amb. [Eberhard] Heyken, has worked tirelessly to produce a program of action that addresses Belarusian concerns. His efforts have been met by nothing, except now, the expulsion of Ms. Fitzgerald.

Further delay in resolving this matter only ensures it will become a matter for consideration at the OSCE Ministerial. That is not in the interest of Belarus and not in the interest of the OSCE. We urge the Chair to dedicate itself to resolving this issue on a priority basis.

In the meantime, we would also urge the Chair to keep the Permanent Council informed of the efforts it is making to resolve this matter.