DATE:
02/10/2008
The Government of Canada today expressed deep concern regarding the conduct of Belarus's September 28 parliamentary elections.
The reaction came in response to a preliminary report on the elections by international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The observers concluded Belarus had not met its OSCE commitments to hold fully democratic elections. Among the issues cited by the OSCE were lack of transparency of the vote count and falsification of results.
The observers' findings are particularly disappointing in light of signs of democratic progress leading up to the election, including the release of high-profile political prisoners, and minor improvements in the electoral process.
In response to Belarus's undemocratic presidential election in March 2006, Canada has restricted official contact and trade with the country.
Source:
http://www.isria.info/RESTRICTED/D/2008/OCTOBER_3/diplo_02october2008_7.htm
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