Recommendation 1874
(2009)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 23 June 2009 (20th Sitting) (see Doc. 11939, report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur:
Mr Rigoni; and Doc. 11960, opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human
Rights, rapporteur: Mr Pourgourides). Text
adopted by the Assembly on 23 June 2009 (20th Sitting).
1. Referring
to its
Resolution 1671
(2009) on the situation in Belarus, the Parliamentary Assembly
confirms its view that the measures recently undertaken by the Belarusian
authorities, namely the release of all internationally recognised
political prisoners, the registration of the opposition movement
“For Freedom!”, the possibility for two independent publications
to be printed in Belarus and to be distributed through the state network,
the co-operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR)
with a view to reforming Belarusian electoral legislation and practice,
the creation of consultative councils and the consent to the opening
of an Infopoint on the Council of Europe in Minsk are steps in the
right direction, reflecting the authorities’ willingness to engage
with European organisations, including the Council of Europe, at
a political level.
2. The Assembly reiterates its conviction that the best way for
the Council of Europe to encourage the continuation of this process
is by resuming political dialogue with the authorities, while continuing
to support the strengthening of democratic forces and civil society
in the country. At the same time, however, the Assembly insists
on the fact that dialogue can only be sustained through continuous
efforts by the Belarusian leadership to make progress towards the
attainment of Council of Europe standards.
3. It also welcomes the initiatives already taken by other bodies
of the Council of Europe to restore dialogue with the various interlocutors
in Belarus.
4. The Assembly, therefore, invites the Committee of Ministers
to resume contacts with the Belarusian authorities, in particular
by:
4.1 allowing the presence of
the diplomatic representatives of Belarus at the meetings of its rapporteur
groups every time that the issue of Belarus is on the agenda;
4.2 monitoring the situation in Belarus, also through the
organisation of field visits, in particular as regards:
4.2.1 the issue of political prisoners;
4.2.2 freedom of association;
4.2.3 freedom of assembly;
4.2.4 freedom of the media;
4.2.5 electoral reform;
4.2.6 the death penalty;
4.3 considering in a positive spirit the accession of Belarus
to Council of Europe instruments open to non-member states for which
Belarus has made a formal request and, until accession is possible, consider
ways of co-operating with the Belarusian authorities with a view
to helping them bring the legislation of Belarus in line with Council
of Europe standards.
5. In the same spirit, the Assembly asks the Committee of Ministers
to devote very special interest to local democracy in Belarus and
accordingly to support the action of the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities of the Council of Europe aimed at promoting compliance
with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government
(ETS No. 122) and aiding the formation of a national association
of local and regional elected representatives.
6. At the same time, the Assembly calls on the Committee of Ministers
to step up its activities in support of the development of civil
society, with an emphasis on raising awareness of Council of Europe
values and knowledge of its standards in Belarus, by:
6.1 establishing a voluntary fund
with a view to financing traineeships at the Council of Europe for young
Belarusians;
6.2 promoting the participation of Belarusian NGOs and civil
society representatives in Council of Europe events;
6.3 encouraging its intergovernmental committees to organise
meetings, seminars and other events in Belarus, and ensure that
they are given high visibility;
6.4 setting up an information campaign on the Council of Europe,
to be conducted throughout Belarus, also relying on the Infopoint
on the Council of Europe in Minsk;
6.5 setting up a webpage on Belarus in the Council of Europe
website, in order to facilitate access to relevant information by
ordinary Belarusians;
6.6 co-operating with the European Union and the OSCE in the
elaboration and implementation of joint programmes and other activities
in Belarus.
