MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Belarus (2012/2581(RSP))
13.3.2012
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Helmut Scholz on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
B7‑0180/2012
European Parliament resolution on Belarus (2012/2581(RSP))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus, in particular that of 15 February 2012, 13 September 2011, 12 May 2011, 10 March 2011, 20 January 2011, 10 March 2010, 17 December 2009,
– having regard to the EU Foreign Affairs Council decision of 23 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Belarus,
– having regard to the EU Foreign Affairs Council decision 2012/126/CFSP of 28 February 2012 to reinforce restrictive measures against Belarusian adding additional 21 persons responsible for the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition on the travel ban and asset freeze list,
– having regard to the Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton of 28 February 2012 on the decision of Belarusian authorities to recall the EU Head of Delegation and Polish Ambassador to Minsk,
– having regard to the Council of Europe resolution on the situation on Belarus of 25 January 2012 1857(2012) condemning continuous persecution of members of the opposition and the harassment of civil society activists, independent media and human rights defenders in Belarus,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas EU-Belarus diplomatic conflict of unprecedented scope escalated after the Belarusian authorities requested that the ambassador of the European Union and the Polish ambassador leave the country and recalled its own ambassadors from Brussels and Warsaw as a response to the European Council decision of 28 February 2012;
B. whereas the ambassadors of the EU Member States in Minsk were all called back for consultations to their capitals and all EU Member States summoned Belarusian ambassadors to their foreign ministries;
C. whereas the human and democratic rights situation in Belarus remains of serious concern; whereas repressive measures against members of the democratic opposition, independent media, civil society activists and human rights defenders continue;
1. Demands that the Belarusian authorities immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all those detained on political grounds; strongly criticises the continuation of the repressive measures against members of the democratic opposition, the free media, civil society activists and human rights defenders; calls on the Belarusian authorities to fulfil its international obligations in the field of civil and political rights;
2. Stresses that Belarus needs a public national dialogue with all democratic forces on the future of the country and democratic reforms without any interference from outside;
3. Expresses deep concern at the diplomatic conflict between the authorities of Belarus and the European Union; is concerned that the actions of both sides reinforces the atmosphere of mistrust and hostility between Belarus and the European Union, leading to further aggravation of contradictions instead of holding productive dialogue and searching mechanisms of mutually beneficial cooperation and neighbourhood;
4. Underlines that no problem in the common neighbourhood of the EU and Russia can be solved without cooperation with Russia; calls on the EU and Russia to stop any activity to deepening the existing contradictions in the area and to overcome the rivalry in this area; calls on the HR/VP of the Commission Catherine Ashton to discuss with its counterpart in Russia on a cooperative approach towards the common neighbourhood, including Belarus as a partner of Russia within the Eurasian Union;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Belarus Parliament and authorities, the Member States, the Commission and the Council, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the government and Parliament of Russia.