PACE spokesman is going to study the situation in Belarus in detail :: Charter'97 :: News

“I consider that it is important for me to have a clear understanding of the situation in Belarus before starting my work”, Italian deputy Andrea Rigoni, newly appointed spokesman for the Parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Belarus, declared. According to him, it is especially essential to explore the situation taking into account such democratic standards as free opinion-making, free press and independent court system.

Early in March the newly appointed spokesman of PACE is going, according to himself, to meet with the leading persons of the Belarusian “parliament”.

Andrea Rigoni emphasized that he himself had asked his colleagues from the political committee of PACE to appoint him as a spokesman on Belarus. “I already visited Belarus in March 2006 as an international watcher for the presidential elections, stressed the deputy. My future visits to your country are to be held in compliance with the plans drawn up by the PACE secretariat”.

Andrea Rigoni expressed his opinion that it was important to promote the democratic values. ”Hopefully, readiness of the Belarusian authorities to move towards European structures, the Council of Europe and European Union in particular, will grow”, Italian deputy said. He also mentioned that for maintaining cooperation with Belarus it is important “to respect and observe the values of the Council of Europe”. He also stressed the importance of the continuous dialogue not only with the authorities but also with the opposition, with representatives of the civil society and non-governmental organizations as well.

According to Andrea Rigoni, opening of the Information Agency of the Council of Europe will facilitate process of the dialogue maintaining. ”Active exchange of the Belarusian and European youth can be a good step forward as well as simplification of the visa granting procedure for promoting the exchange”, Andrea Rigoni told.

The Italian policymaker observed that maintenance of the dialogue is a continuous process, which needs time. ”But we must be decisive in completing the process”, A. Rigoni considers.