2003 press releases

USOSCE Statement on Belarus (February 27, 2003)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have noted the decision of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to allow representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly to occupy the Belarusian seat in the Parliamentary Assembly. This is the decision of the parliamentarians from OSCE participating States and, of course, does not reflect the position of the executive branch of the governments of those states.

More importantly, we understand from the debate last week and from the concluding statement of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, that this decision was based on a technical determination that the rules of the Parliamentary Assembly required seating the delegation regardless of the failure of the Belarusian regime to meet any of the criteria established by European institutions for normalizing relations with Belarus.

Indeed, the head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly ad hoc Working Group, and many delegations that voted even in favor of seating the Belarusian delegation on procedural grounds, emphasized that Belarus had made no progress towards ending the climate of repression, allowing media freedom, allowing the parliamentary entity to exercise the normal powers of a parliament, or bringing its electoral practices into line with democratic standards. However, some argued that inclusion will offer Belarus an opportunity to work to build relations and improve its implementation of OSCE commitments and to meet other international standards.

The U.S. subscribes to a step by step approach in relations with Belarus and feels that positive, meaningful steps towards democratization and respect for human rights should be reciprocated. Conversely, disregard for international standards should not be rewarded. For some time now, we have not seen significant Belarusian steps towards respect for these norms.

The Belarusian government has long argued that if its parliament were seated in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, it would be prepared to move forward towards meeting criteria that reflect OSCE principles and commitments. As a result, the onus is now on Belarus to take concrete steps that produce progress on criteria established by the international community, including through cooperation with the OSCE Office in Minsk and with other OSCE institutions.

Belarus now has the opportunity to prove that those who argued that inclusion would result in reform were indeed correct. We hope that Belarus seizes that opportunity.

Thank you.