2001 press releases

International Observation Mission Planned for Belarus Elections (July 9, 2001)

In Paris on July 5, 2001, the European Institutions co-operating as the Parliamentary Troika in support of the democratic process in Belarus (the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE, and the Council of Europe) and the representatives of the OSCE (the Chairman-in-Office, the Secretariat, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights -- ODIHR, and the Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus -- AMG), the European Commission and the representative of the current EU Presidency (Belgium), as well as the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) consulted on the participation of an organized International Observation Mission in the forthcoming Presidential Elections in Belarus scheduled for September 9, 2001, with a second round scheduled -- if necessary -- for September 23, 2001.

The European Institutions confirmed the importance of the four criteria established in 2000 as the benchmarks for free and fair elections and the main principles of the ongoing democratization process in Belarus:

- Transparency of the election process,

- Access of opponents to the state-run mass media,

- Non-discrimination of political opponents, and

- Meaningful functions and powers for the current parliamentary body.

It was decided to ask ODIHR to organize a full-fledged long- and short-term International Observation Mission, which would closely co-operate with the Parliamentary Troika and their parliamentarians if such a Troika visit were to be set up on the occasion of the presidential elections in Belarus.

Invitations of the Belarusian authorities to the European Institutions are expected in due course.

For a number of years, the European Institutions have engaged the authorities and the civil society of Belarus in a manifold dialogue on the steps to be taken in the country in order to ensure the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections in accordance with the OSCE standards, as embodied in the Copenhagen Document of June 1990 and the Charter of Paris of November 1990, as well as in the Istanbul Summit Declaration of November 19, 1999, to which the President of Belarus also subscribed.

Assessing the political development in Belarus, the representatives of the participating Institutions noted with concern a number of serious shortcomings in the democratic development of the country and the significant deficits in the framework conditions of the presidential elections: for instance, the disregard of the political and social opponents in the composition of the 160 territorial election commissions and the ongoing acts of intimidation of citizens ready and willing to actively support potential candidates or the domestic observation structures.

The European Institutions appeal to the authorities of Belarus to adopt a strict policy of non-interference in the election process and of non-discrimination against potential contenders and their supporters. The Institutions will follow closely further developments, especially in the all-important registration process. They deplore that -- by way of presidential decrees with the power of instantly effective laws -- the framework conditions for opposition would-be candidates were changed to the disadvantage of the challengers of the incumbent President. All political and social forces of Belarus are actively engaged in the elections -- in spite of the ongoing concerns and doubts with regard to the factual and effective transparency and fairness of the upcoming elections. They favour the dispatch of the ODIHR-based International Election Observation Mission.

The international community which includes -- within the framework of the OSCE -- the United States of America and Canada recognizes this interest of the civil society and of the official side in the participation of the ODIHR-based Election Observation Mission. It is considered desirable to include experts from all neighbouring countries in the International Election Observation Mission. The decision in favour of the participation of an ODIHR-based Election Observation Mission will be reviewed, however, in light of further developments in the election process, with the registration of candidates constituting the most sensitive phase of the process up to the actual elections.

For further information, please contact Andrew Carpenter, Political Counsellor, OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, Prospekt Gasety Pravda 11, 220116 Minsk, Belarus.

Tel.: + 375 17 272 34 97 Fax: + 375 17 272 34 98 E-mail: osceamg@osce.org.by