15/10/2007 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), PACE Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee, will carry out a fact-finding visit to Belarus from 16 to 19 October as part of the preparation of his report on the situation in that country. He will meet a number of official representatives, including the speaker of the parliament and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Justice, as well as representatives of the opposition parties, civil society and NGOs.
14/05/2007 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The presentation of Belarus as an unopposed candidate for the UN Human Rights Council is "nothing less than scandalous" given Belarus’ dismal human rights record, according to a statement approved today by PACE's Legal Affairs Committee. The committee urges the UN General Assembly to reject Belarus’ candidacy.
17/04/2007 | News
Democratic forces in Belarus should overcome ideological differences to "reach for and preserve unity", according to PACE's Sub-Committee on Belarus. In a statement approved today, following a round table with opposition leaders, the sub-committee called on them to act in "a forward-looking manner" and start preparing the ground for the 2008 parliamentary elections. "Belarusians should be aware that they have a democratic option and they should be free to choose it," the parliamentarians said.
16/03/2007 | News
René van der Linden, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has strongly condemned the recent arrests of opposition leaders in Belarus. Speaking during meetings of PACE’s Bureau and Standing Committee in Paris, the President stressed that these arrests were all the more unacceptable given that, following his visit to Minsk in January, the Belarusian authorities had appeared to show a willingness to take a more constructive attitude towards relations with Europe and to start developing a new political climate in the country. This new step backwards jeopardizes a possible review of current relations with the Assembly, he said.
13/02/2007 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Paris on 13 February, designated Andrea Rigoni (Italy, EPP/CD)as the rapporteur on the situation in Belarus. Mr Rigoni is one of the 20 PACE Vice-Presidents and leader of the Italian PACE delegation.
19/01/2007 | President
At the end of a two-day visit to Belarus (18-19 January 2007), PACE President René van der Linden has called for positive steps to start fresh co-operation with Belarus and end its isolation, and proposed a list of practical measures. "I see more willingness on the part of the authorities to move closer to European structures, in particular the Council of Europe and the European Union," he said. But any dialogue with Belarus must be based on respect for Council of Europe values, the President stressed. He also met with members of the opposition, including Alexander Milinkievich and the wife of imprisoned opposition leader Aleksandr Kozulin. They agreed the visit was a positive step for democratic development in the country.
18/01/2007 | News
Adressing the Belarusian State University duiring his visit to Minsk, PACE President René van der Linden today called on students to choose a future based on "freedom and dignity". "I believe that it is you, the young people of Belarus, who represent the future and who will shape your country’s destiny. I urge you to choose a future based on freedom and dignity, a future of dynamic opportunity built on openness, security and stability; a future based on European values, shared with the other members of the greater European family", he said.
18/01/2007 | News
PACE President René van der Linden today started a two-day visit to Belarus with a view to encouraging democratic developments and promoting Council of Europe values in the country. The President met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Vladimir Konoplev, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Martynov, and with members of the opposition, including Akexander Milinkievich. René van der Linden called for the release of all those imprisoned for allegedly political reasons, and called for dialogue based on the implementation of Council of Europe values such as the freedom of expression, the organisation of free and fair elections and the abolition of the death penalty. He offered to his counterparts the use of Council of Europe instruments, such as the Venice Commission and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture. The PACE President also called for the intensification of students exchanges between Belarus and other European countries, and supported the reform of visa procedure that would make them more straightforward.
11/01/2007 | President
PACE President René van der Linden will visit Belarus from 18 to 20 January 2007 to engage in a dialogue with the authorities, the opposition and civil society - including students - with a view to encouraging democratic developments and promoting Council of Europe values in the country. Mr van der Linden will address the main concerns of the Parliamentary Assembly with regard to Belarus, including the functioning of the opposition, imprisonments for allegedly political reasons, freedom of expression and the death penalty. He will also identify areas and methods of possible concrete assistance programmes to Belarus.
13/07/2006 | News
PACE President René van der Linden has welcomed the change of heart on Belarus by the EU Presidency, which said yesterday that its policy of isolating Belarus has not worked. "As I have said before, even if we have profound differences with Belarus – the only European country that does not merit membership of the Council of Europe – I believe the only way to improve things is through dialogue," said Mr van der Linden. "The Finnish Presidency of the 25-nation EU and the Russian Presidency of the 46-nation Council of Europe can work together to foster that dialogue. Furthermore, I am ready to go to Belarus if it will help this country on its path to democracy."
27/04/2006 | News
René van der Linden has condemned the arrest in Belarus of opposition politicians at a peaceful rally and called for their immediate release - including Alexander Milinkevic, a candidate in the recent presidential elections.
13/04/2006 | News
PACE today called on the Belarussian authorities to “accede to the opposition’s demand for a re-run of the presidential election”, and ensure the pre-conditions exist for it to be free, fair and in line with international standards. At the end of an urgent debate, the parliamentarians encouraged Belarusian democratic forces to remain united and called on the authorities “to immediately release all those detained in connection with the March Presidential election”.