Council of Europe is concerned about the civil society issue in Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

Participants of the International Non-Governmental Organizations Conference (INGO) of the Council of Europe expressed their worries about the civil society issue in Belarus. The subject was mentioned in the resolution adopted at the meeting in Strasburg on 30 January. The text of the resolution is placed at the official sight of the Council of Europe.

“The Conference of the International Non-Governmental Organizations is concerned with serious violations of human right which have continued in Belarus, violations of electoral legislation during elections of regional soviets’ deputies on January 14, 2007, the increasing legislature restrictions of the NDO, trade unions, mass media activities and internet functioning, repressions against activists of the civil society”, it is reported in the resolution.

It is pointed out in the document that the visit of Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden became “an obvious demonstration of the Council of Europe readiness for the dialogue with Belarus”. The participants of the conference have expressed their hope that the interest in developing cooperation proclaimed by the Belarusian authorities means true desire of democratic changes, which final target is creation of the democratic society and joining of the European Union by Belarus.

It is also emphasized in the resolution that for the dialogue to start the Belarusian authorities are to meet two requirements; release of the public prisoners and completion of investigations of cases on the disappeared policymakers and public figures.

The Conference Participants appealed to the Belarusian authorities for them to withdraw pressure towards the political parties, non-governmental organizations and their activists. “The resolution also appeals to the official Minsk for it to respect freedom of information and to stop interfering with the independent mass media”