BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

01/01/2008

Slovakia Wants Belarus to Begin Meeting Criteria for Joining CE

Strasbourg, January 1 (TASR-SLOVAKIA) - Slovakia intends to contribute during its six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to make changes in Belarus's attitude towards meeting the criteria for membership in this pan-European organisation.

According to Slovak Ambassador to the Council of Europe (CE) Emil Kuchar on Tuesday, under the leadership of its President Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, Belarus remains the only European country outside the 47-strong CE, the goals of which include protection of human rights and strengthening of pluralistic democracy.

"Nowadays, Belarus is far from fulfilling the CE's standards, however, the issue of Belarus has to remain on the table. It's unacceptable that an essentially European country should stay completely outside this value-based system," said Kuchar.

"The Committee of Ministers contends that Belarus simply has to start complying with conditions for its entry into the CE. We're cognisant that de facto this means to changing Belarus's ways, otherwise this goal is impossible," warned Kuchar.

The Ambassador also said that after lengthy debate Slovakia has managed to achieve approval from the CE's executive body for a programme on co-operation with Belarus. "We start from two premises - the current regime in Belarus is undemocratic, tramples human rights and doesn't guarantee positive development. On the other hand, there is a society - opposition and ordinary citizens - that we don't want to isolate," said Kuchar.

Slovakia's goal is to enable wide-ranging discussion between CE- member states and representatives of the Belarus Government as well as the non-governmental (3rd) sector. "(Even if) this may take place in Bratislava, what matters is the confirmation of the CE's values and sending a message to Minsk and the opposition about the door to the CE being open, as long as Belarus meets respective conditions," Slovak diplomat said.

Slovakia assumed its six-month presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers in mid-November 2007.

Source:

http://www.tasr.sk/30.axd?k=20080101TBB00253