DATE:
05/08/2008
Text of report by Belarusian state-owned broadcaster First TV Channel, on 5 August
[Presenter] Belarus has joined the Convention on the Standards for Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the CIS, the head of the Belarusian Central Election Commission, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, said today. The Convention was created in 2002 and as of today has been joined by seven CIS member-states. Yarmoshyna said that the Convention is the most complete document outlining election regulations. The requirements of other European election conventions are lower. Belarus has long been implementing the requirements of the Convention, but has not yet joined it due to a formal reason: Belarusian legislation does not envisage participation in elections of individuals who are imprisoned, but not yet convicted.
[Yarmoshyna] There are certain formal disagreements between the Convention and the Belarusian electoral legislation. Nevertheless, as soon as we join the Convention, it will allow us to settle them [disagreements]. In general, the Republic of Belarus has for a long time, from the very beginning, been observing all the necessary provisions of this important international document. Moreover, the Belarusian Central Election Commission closely cooperated with their Russian colleagues in the development, amendment and adoption of the Convention.
Originally published by Belarusian television, Minsk, in Russian 1200 5 Aug 08.
Source:
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2476175&title=Belarus_Joins_CIS.html
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