Belarus Obstructs Election Observation Says US State Dept. :: Charter'97 :: News

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher released on August 10 another statement, expressing alarm over the hindrances made to the election monitoring process by the Belarusian authorities. Following read its full text:

Despite repeated assurances, the government of Belarus has not yet issued an invitation to allow monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the September 9,2001 presidential election. In violation of its international commitments, the government of Belarus denied visas for an OSCE observation team that planned to begin work in Belarus on August 1. Observation of the election by OSCE monitors, both international and domestic, is required to determine to what extent the election process is legitimate. The United States decries the delay in issuing the invitation for OSCE election observers. The delay in issuing the invitation is obstructing an effective international observation of the election.

The United States has consistently supported democratic development in Belarus, including the holding of transparent and fair elections. Key to an open electoral process are the criteria set forth by the OSCE last year and Belarus` OSCE Copenhagen Document commitments. These criteria include an end to the climate of fear, equal access to the state media for all candidates, respect for freedom of assembly, as well as transparency and fairness in registration of candidates and functioning of electoral commissions. To date, the government of Belarus has failed on each and every one of these measures. In recent weeks, police have attacked non-governmental organizations conducting non-partisan election-related activities and have illegally seized U.S. government owned equipment. The United States condemns the seizures of U.S. government-owned equipment in Belarus, calls on the Belarusian regime to honor its bilateral and multilateral commitments and obligations, and return the wrongfully seized equipment to us immediately.

We call upon Belarus to take immediate steps to create conditions for free and fair elections on September 9, based on international standards and in fulfillment of its international commitments. Failure to do so will call into question the credibility of the entire election process and prevent any improvement in relations with the United States.