2002 press releases

Head of USOSCE on OSCE-EU Cooperation in Belarus (September 25, 2002)

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It is a privilege to join you and others around this table in welcoming to this special Permanent Council the distinguished Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana.

...Mr. Solana, looking ahead to where we should enhance future OSCE-EU
cooperation, I would like to raise two specific areas.

In Belarus, the OSCE faces a difficult challenge as we try to resolve the questions over the future activities of our Assistance and Monitoring Group. Overwhelming agreement within the OSCE exists on the important contribution the AMG can and should make to the development of democratic institutions in Belarus and ending Belarus' deepening self-isolation within the international community. Yet the Belarusian regime has turned its back on the good faith of this organization and prevented a resolution.  Its record on human rights continues to decline. It is clear that the OSCE and the EU share the same hope for Belarus, and we appreciate the consistent support EU member countries have already provided on behalf of the OSCE AMG.  I believe that more coordinated, collective efforts by the OSCE and EU to work constructively with Belarus to secure the return of the AMG would offer the best hope to Belarus of future democratic development, reform and an end to its self-imposed isolation...

Thank you.