EU appeal to Belarus following further refusal to extend visa of a member of OSCE

Brussels, 19/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following the refusal of the Belarusian authorities to extend the visa of Meaghan Fitzgerald, member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Danish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU, and in association with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as the EFTA countries members of the European Economic Area: "The EU regrets the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to extend the visa for Ms. Meaghan Fitzgerald, who assumed work with the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) in Minsk in January 2002. By doing so, the Belarusian authorities have for the third time since April forced an international staff member of the AMG to leave Belarus at short notice. With the departure of Ms. Fitzgerald the AMG will have to reduce its activities to administrative work. The EU supports the efforts of the Portuguese Chairmanship of the OSCE to find a solution to ensure a continuation of the work of the AMG that would represent a fair compromise and at the same time reflect the principles, rules and spirit of the OSCE. The EU once again urges the Belarusian authorities to reconsider their position and engage in constructive negotiations with the OSCE on the future of the AMG in Belarus. The EU stresses once again that the EU would want to welcome Belarus among the democratic states in Europe, but that the EU is concerned about the situation of democracy and human rights in Belarus. Cooperation with the AMG would be a possibility for Belarus to show progress in these fields. The EU continues to closely monitor developments in the relationship between the OSCE and Belarus, as well as developments within Belarus. The EU believes that the OSCE has a crucial contribution to make in strengthening democratic institutions in Belarus. A satisfactory solution to the AMG question would be taken as a token of the resolve of the Belarusian authorities to improve relations with the EU and with international organisations.