“Chamber” Going to PACE Session :: Charter'97 :: News

Today the 14th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE starts in Washington. It’s theme is “30 years after Helsinki: New Challenges”. This year marks 30 years after signing the historic Helsinki Final Act and 15 years after adoption of Paris Charter. The official delegation of the illegitimate “national assembly” of the “chamber of representatives” of Belarus headed by vice speaker of the “chamber of representatives” Syarhei Zabalotsets is planning to visit America as well.

The members of the official delegation are not revealed for public by the “national assembly” yet. The reasons for such secrecy are also not explained officially. In line with the special decree on foreign business trips, signed by the head of the state recently, the settlement of this question is postponed. The “chamber” could probably wait for decision of the presidential administration.

As it is known, Belarusian range of problem is not on the agenda of the annual session. The meeting of the PACE special working group on Belarus headed by Uta Zapf is not planned as well.

Representatives of the Belarusian opposition are not taking part in the work of Washington session. Special opposition delegation was not sent to Washington, because Belarusian questions would not be discussed at the session. However, member of the Political Council of the United Civil Party Valyantsina Palevikova is on working trip in Canada and the USA now. She could join the discussion in the parliament if needed.

“It is pointless for us to go for the session where the Belarusian question in not on the agenda, it is called a “political tourism”. But I think it is equally pointless to go there for Zabalotsts, Kanaplyou and all others. Belarus is to be mentioned there anyway, on the sidelines, at committee meetings, and it would be mentioned in the unfavourable way. It means to blush and not to present any arguments that the situation in Belarus is changing for the better. There is nothing to say for the Belarusian side,” told the leader of the UCP Anatol Lyabedzka to Radio Svaboda about the prospects of official delegation’s participation in Washington session.