OSCE urges Minsk to reconsider decision to close its Office

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis, the incoming Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE), has called upon the government of Belarus to reconsider the decision on non-extension of the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk.

The statement by Audronius Azubalis was published by the website of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, BelaPAN informs.

Azubalis expressed “his deep regret” over the non-extension of the mandate of the OSCE office in Minsk by the Belorussian authorities. “This is more so disappointing in light of the commitments the Heads of State and Government have undertaken at the OSCE Summit in Astana.”

As said by the diplomat, since 1998 the OSCE Office in Minsk has been providing valuable support to the government’s efforts to promote institution building, consolidate the rule of law and develop relations with civil society in accordance with OSCE principles and commitments, as well as develop activities in the economic and environmental dimensions.

“The mandate of the Office has not been completed,” Azubalis stressed. “There is an important job for the OSCE to continue in Belarus”, Minister Azubalis said.

Azubalis calls upon the Government of Belarus to review its position so that OSCE presence in Minsk could continue.

Zingeris: Shutting down the OSCE Office in Minsk is revenge for objectivity

“Shutting down the OSCE Office in Minsk could be considered as a revenge for the objective conclusions of this organisation on the results of the presidential election in Belarus,” in this way the Chairman of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs Emanuelis Zingeris comments on the decision not to extend the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk, Delfi informs.

As said by him, the recent decision is one more step in the direction away from democratisation of the Belarusian society towards closeness.

“Lithuania, which becomes the chair of the OSCE in a few hours, will do its best for the 40 persons of the office to stay in Minsk as long as possible,” Zingeris noted in an interview to DELFI. At the same time the admitted that the decision on non-extension of the mandate “is a great challenge” for Lithuania, which is to become the OSCE chair, and the authorities of Belarus want the office staff to leave the country at the earliest possible date.

As said by Zingeris, the recent events in Minsk and the story of the OSCE office show “what a price should be paid for the policy conducted by the EU in relations with Lukashenka’s regime.”

The politician believes that Lithuania should abolish payment for visas for Belarusian citizens unilaterally; the EU should annul the moratorium on application of sanctions against Belarusian establishment representatives headed by Lukashenka. Besides, the list of persons for whom entry to the EU countries should be extended, and all those who are involved in the crackdown on democratic forces are to be put on this list.