PACE Rapporteur Urges For Joining Efforts For Change of Power In Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

A session of the Sub-committee on Belarus has taken place in Strasbourg. Members of Sub-committee approved the preliminary memorandum, prepared by the PACE Rapporteur Azim Mollazade. This memorandum is to become the basis for the future report on situation in Belarus, which is to be discussed most likely at winter session. Azim Mollazade told that the situation in Belarus becomes worse with every day: the number of political prisoners is growing, mass crackdown on independent media continues, basic human rights are violated. He personally is concerned by political prisoners most of all. “The time has come when we are to join efforts and take concrete moves to help change of power in Belarus,” he told at the session of the Sub-committee.

Except of the members of the Sub-committee, Lithuanian Ambassador in the Council of Europe Neris Germanas, Latvian Ambassador Peteris Elferts, and the US Consul General in Strasbourg Christopher Davis took part in the session.

Mr.Neris Germanas told: “We are always waiting for quick results, but unfortunately the situation in Belarus differs from the situation in Georgia or Ukraine before revolutions. That is why we are to work out a long-term strategy, and in a short-term prospect we are to realize what we can do for Belarus, not just declare, in the near future. Belarus must be a part of Europe, and not part of Eurasia, for instance, or of some other construct. We should use all informational possibilities: to create new radio stations, internet sources and other programs. The starting point is simple: money is needed. There are TACIS, Target and other programs. But we are to become active ourselves and not just wait until potential sponsors would be ready and start offering assistance themselves”.

Latvian Ambassador Peteris Elferts reminded everybody about the political prisoner Mikhail Marynich: “We are greatly concerned by his lot. Mr. Marynich was Belarusian Ambassador in Latvia, and he is an esteemed person in our country. In order that everybody would know about worsening of the situation, I propose carry out public hearings concerning situation in Belarus at every session of the PACE. Besides, many NGOs in my country are gradually reoriented for assistance to Belarus, for example LATO (LAtvioan Committee on NATO support) and newly established “Open Belarus”. I propose to hold a joint session of the PACE Sub-committee on Belarus and Belarusian opposition in one of the Baltic states”.

The US Consul General in Strasbourg Christopher Davis, in his turn, said that in the run-up to presidential elections in Belarus the USA are to increase assistance to Belarusian civil society.