MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
13.2.2006
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Elisabeth Schroedter and Marie Anne Isler Béguin
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
on Belarus in the run-up to the presidential elections on 19 March
B6‑0123/2006
European Parliament resolution on Belarus in the run-up to the presidential elections on 19 March
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,
– having regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy, which aims to extend peace and stability to countries bordering the EU, with a view to closer cooperation and to sharing the values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and civil liberties,
– having regard to the Council statement of 3 February 2006 on relations with Belarus,
– having regard to statement No 588 of the OSCE Permanent Council of 19 January 2006,
– having regard to the Presidency statements on Belarus of 4 January 2006 and 2 December and 5 October 2005,
– having regard to the General Affairs and External Relations Council Conclusions of 7 November 2005,
– having regard to the OSCE’s 1999 Istanbul summit declaration,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. having regard to the forthcoming presidential elections in Belarus, which will take place on 19 March 2006,
B. whereas President Alexander Lukashenko amended the constitution to remove the limit of two terms for presidents so that he could stand again for the presidency,
C. pointing out that, according to international observers, the previous elections showed shortcomings in a number of areas, including pluralistic representation of election bodies, restrictive procedures for the election of candidates and excessive regulation of campaign activities, and that there is a real fear that the voting will not be conducted fairly this time either,
D. welcoming the invitation issued by the Belarus Foreign Minister on 19 January 2006 to the ODIHR to monitor the election process,
E. stressing the importance of the four criteria established in 2000 by the Parliamentary Troika as the benchmarks for democratic elections and the main conditions for the democratisation process in Belarus, which include transparency of the election process, access for opponents to the State-run mass media, non-discrimination against political opponents, and meaningful functions and powers for the parliamentary body,
F. highlighting the widespread human rights violations which have taken place in recent years, as pointed out by the OSCE and other international bodies, under the rule of President Lukashenko, with his strict control of the State apparatus, the secret services, the judiciary, the mass media and law enforcement bodies,
G. deeply worried by the Belarus National Assembly's decision to approve at first reading a draft anti-revolution bill amending the penal code which will have a direct impact on the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression,
H. deeply worried by the recent series of politically motivated repressive attacks against opposition candidates and their supporters, the last remaining independent media and NGOs in their pre-election activities, including discriminatory approaches by the Belarus authorities towards the registration of presidential candidates, as well as serious irregularities in the collection of signatures, e.g. students who are under threat of expulsion from their schools for supporting the opposition or for not signing Mr Lukashenko’s registration forms,
I. deeply concerned by the lawsuit which the Ministry for Justice in Belarus has filed against the Belarus Union of Youth and Children's Public Associations (RADA) after it conducted a forum of independent youth organisations, by the ensuing decision of the Supreme Court of 6 February 2006 to shut down the organisation and by the decision to expel the Belarusian student Tatsiana Khoma from her university after her election to the executive committee of ESIB, the National Unions of Students in Europe,
J. extremely concerned at the decision by the Belarus Supreme Economic Court of 20 December 2005 to reverse its original decision and reinstate harsh penalties against the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC), including crippling fines and back taxes and renewed threats of criminal prosecution against the BHC Chairwoman and Chief Accountant,
K. stressing the increasing political isolation of Belarus, the only Eastern European country with which the EU has not yet ratified a partnership and cooperation agreement,
L. underlining the fact that, in a show of willingness to cooperate closely, the EU included Belarus in the European Neighbourhood Policy, but that at present Belarus is not benefiting from the offer of increased cooperation owing to the lack of basic arrangements for supporting democratic structures and economic development with public funds, despite the hopes of Belarusian citizens for increased cooperation with the European Union,
M. drawing attention to the poor ecological situation, with part of the country still suffering from the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and the denial by the presidential administration of the ongoing impact of nuclear radiation on health, in particular on children in the affected regions, with the result that international public and private aid is restricted,
1. Strongly condemns the Belarus regime’s indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists and any person who attempts freely to voice criticism of the President and the regime, as manifested through arbitrary arrests, ill‑treatment of detainees, disappearances, politically motivated persecution and other acts of repression which flout the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law;
2. Expresses, nevertheless, its great interest in the latest developments, such as the reintroduction of basic rights and the rule of law in Belarus, points out that the maintenance of democratic standards and human rights is the main precondition for the normalisation of relations with neighbouring countries, and renews the offer of large-scale assistance for Belarus with the task of restoring democracy;
3. Calls on the Belarus authorities to guarantee that the presidential elections of 19 March 2006 will be free, fair, equal, accountable and transparent;
4. Deplores the actions of the Belarus authorities in establishing a registration system aimed at eliminating independent candidates from the electoral lists;
5. Calls on the Belarus authorities to make it possible for the independent media to operate properly and to guarantee equal and unimpeded access to the media, including those owned by the State, for all presidential candidates;
6. Calls on the Belarus authorities to eliminate the existing obstacles which minimise the access of the population to free and impartial information;
7. Urges the Belarus National Assembly to reconsider its decision and to reject the draft anti-revolution bill;
8. Calls on the Member States to take appropriate action in response to the failure to recognise the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to establish a pluralist society in Belarus and to consider denying visas to members of the Belarus authorities or other persons who have acted illegally at any time against the democratic opposition or NGOs by not recognising their right to freedom of opinion and expression;
9. Calls on the Belarus Government not to miss once again the opportunity of closer relations with the EU through the development of a genuine partnership within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which is contingent on the values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law being fully shared;
10. Expresses its interest in participating in monitoring the presidential elections as part of the Parliamentary Troika in order to demonstrate to Belarusian society its interest in a democratic future for the country;
11. Calls on the Belarus authorities to cease their campaign of harassment against the Belarus Helsinki Committee;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and Parliament of Belarus, the Council of Europe and the OSCE.