Permanent Delegation of Norway to the OSCE: Statement on Belarus

Submitted by admin on Sat, 03/10/2012 - 09:41

PC.DEL/144/12 
1 March 2012 
   
ENGLISH only

Permanent Delegation of Norway to the OSCE
STATEMENT ON BELARUS
As delivered by Ambassador Robert Kvile 
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
1 March, 2012

Mr. Chairman,

We share the concerns expressed by the US delegation about violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and rule of law in Belarus. In this regard, Mr. Chairman, I would like to draw your attention to a statement issued yesterday by the Foreign Minister of Norway, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, in which he says, and I quote:

“Norway deeply deplores the latest developments in Belarus in which the EU and Polish ambassadors have been asked to leave the country. It is difficult to see how this will benefit the country.

Belarus is isolating itself from Europe and the rest of the world and this can only damage its own political and economic development. Belarus can only achieve economic development that benefits its population if the authorities ensure full respect for human rights. The authorities must also make sure that the parliamentary elections to be held in autumn 2012 are conducted in accordance with democratic principles.”

Norway will maintain its commitment to the development of democracy in Belarus as well as its increased support for human rights efforts in the country.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

http://www.osce.org/pc/88753

News of Belarus

PACE rapporteur on Belarus condemns continuing political repression

Submitted by admin on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 11:30

Strasbourg, 09.03.2011 - At a meeting of the PACE Political Affairs Committee in Paris today, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Rapporteur on the situation in Belarus, Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), strongly condemned the continuing repression of civil society, human rights defenders, independent media and political opponents in Belarus.

Russians were taken to court: extend and don’t have mercy on

Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/01/2011 - 22:50

An author is an employee of the International observation mission Committee to control the situation concerning human rights in Belarus. Also a task is to observe uncover of the cases and a justice in criminal cases of the 19th of December

Jagland reacts to sentencing of opposition activist in Belarus

Submitted by admin on Sun, 02/20/2011 - 12:43

Strasbourg, 18.02.2011 – "Reducing the opposition to silence and ignoring basic democratic principles will not help President Lukashenka and the Belarusian authorities to gain legitimacy or credibility among the international community," said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today.