MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

19.2.2008

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Vittorio Agnoletto
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on Belarus

B6‑0083/2008

European Parliament resolution on Belarus

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Belarus,

-  having regard to its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought, which was awarded in December 2004 to the Belarusian Association of Journalists and in December 2006 to Aleksander Milinkevich,

-  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas Belarus abstained on the UN General Assembly´s Third Committee´s resolution calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty,

B.  whereas positive developments on the establishment of the European Commission's Delegation in Minsk have taken place recently,

1.  Condemns the recent executions in Belarus of Syarhey Marozaw, Ihar Danchanca and Valeri Gorbatii; recalls that Belarus is one of the last countries in Europe which is still practising the death penalty, which runs counter to European values; calls on the government of Belarus to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty;

2.  Notes that constant arbitrary arrests of the civil society and opposition activists, clampdown on independent media and the continuous use of death penalty contradict the Belarusian government's declarations on the possible improvement of the relations with the European Union;

3.  Takes note of the recent release of several democratic opposition activists, including the leaders of the Young Front; at the same time urges the Belarus authorities to release immediately all remaining political prisoners, including Alyaksandr Kazulin and Andrey Klimaw, and to put a complete stop to the use of intimidation, harassment, targeted arrests and politically motivated prosecutions against the activists of the democratic opposition and of the civil society of Belarus;

4.  Reminds the Belarus authorities that the release of all political prisoners is one of the key conditions for Belarus to the re-launch of its relationship with the EU;

5.  Welcomes the decision taken by President Lukashenko to authorise his deputy foreign minister to sign an agreement authorising the establishment of a European Commission delegation in the country;

6.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to take further steps towards the facilitation and liberalisation of visa procedures for Belarusian citizens; urges, in this context, moves to reduce the cost of Schengen visas for Belarusian citizens;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and the Belarus authorities.