PACE President: We expect particular steps from Belarus

The Council of Europe is ready to continue a dialogue with Belarus on the country's membership in the organisation only after a moratorium on the death penalty is established.

This statement was made the the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Jean-Claude Mignon, Interfax news agency reports.

Jean-Claude Mignon said in St Petersburg on Friday that the Council of Europe wanted Belarus to respect and share the Council's values and at least establish a moratorium on the death penalty.

He noted a dialogue on Belarus's membership in the Council of Europe could be continued only after the country “shares the European values”. According to him, the fact that the PACE special rapporteur on Belarus is not allowed to visit the country is unacceptable.  

Belarus can take its place in the European family, but must make particular steps first, the PACE President says.

Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia, said in turn that the “European family” cannot be full without Belarus.  “The Council of Europe can also be reproached: the family of the Council of Europe is not full because it lacks Belarus,” Matvienko said.