Ministers criticized Belarus but did not discuss expulsion from OSCE

for human rights violations.
 

Everyone expected something unpleasant for Belarus to happen at the 18th session of the OSCE Ministerial Council. Our country was predicted to be expelled from the influential international organization.

The expectations were indirectly confirmed at the beginning of the session. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the first to have mentioned the Belarusian issue.

Hillary Clinton: “Human rights and the freedom of mass media are constantly being violated in Belarus which is only 40 kilometers away from Vilnius – the city we are in now. There are political prisoners and human rights defenders are persecuted in the country. For example, head of the human rights centre “Viasna” Ales Byalyatski has been imprisoned for 4.5 years recently. He was punished for political reasons – for his human rights activities and for helping victims of the regime. There are other political prisoners – ex-presidential candidates Sannikau and Statkevich. The OSCE should not forget about these problems”.

European colleagues supported the Secretary of State. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt commented on it.

Carl Bildt: “We are worried about the recent events in Belarus. The news we keep receiving from Minsk make us anxious. There is constant violation of human rights, liberties and democratic principles in this country. Sweden was one of the states that activated “Moscow mechanism” in the OSCE in response to this particular situation. We urged many times to release political prisoners and acquit all Belarusian political prisoners in Belarus including human rights defender Ales Byalyatski”.

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird supported him.

John Baird: “Mink authorities keep restricting Belarusian citizens’ rights and liberties. Canada condemns the Belarusian government in connection with the evident violation of international agreements in the field of basic liberties and supremacy of law. We are disappointed at the fact that Minsk OSCE bureau was closed down by the Belarusian authorities before the office could finish its work”.

Similar statements were made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Uri Rosenthal and by UK Minister of State at the Foreign Office serving as Minister for Europe David Lidington. Journalists received the resolution on Belarus composed by participants of the parallel OSCE civil community conference in the afternoon. By the way, Hilary Clinton went to meet them right after her speech. Representatives of NGOs discussed the possibility of suspension of our country’s membership in the OSCE and of disfranchising representatives of the Belarusian government.

Of course, Euroradio was interested in Belarus’ future membership in the OSCE in the first place. Our reporter sent this question to Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Janez Lenarčič. His reply was brief – only the member-states could make the decision. Meanwhile, all decisions are made unanimously in the OSCE. That is why one country voting contra is enough to reject a suggestion.

By the way, Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhei Martynau was present at the meeting but did not say anything in response to his western counterparts’ statements and suggestions made by representatives of NGOs.