JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
15.2.2006
- –Bogdan Klich and Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
- –Jan Marinus Wiersma, Marek Maciej Siwiec and Joseph Muscat, on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Janusz Onyszkiewicz and Cecilia Malmström, on behalf of the ALDE Group
- –Elisabeth Schroedter and Marie Anne Isler Béguin, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Konrad Szymański and Inese Vaidere, on behalf of the UEN Group
- –PPE-DE (B6‑0109/2006)
- –PSE (B6‑0113/2006)
- –UEN (B6‑0122/2006)
- –Verts/ALE (B6‑0123/2006)
- –ALDE (B6‑0125/2006)
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Belarus prior to the presidential elections on 19 March
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Belarus, in particular its resolution of 10 March 2005 on Belarus, its resolution of 7 July 2005 on the political situation and independence of the media in Belarus and its resolution of 26 September 2005 on Belarus,
– having regard, in particular, to its resolution of 5 July 2001 on Belarus, adopted prior to the 2001 presidential elections, to the reports of the Parliamentary Troika (OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and European Parliament) published after the 2000 general election (30 January 2001) and the 2001 presidential election (4 October 2001), and to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolution of 26 January 2006,
– having regard to the award of its Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Belarusian Association of Journalists in December 2004,
– having regard to the conclusions on Belarus issued by the Council following its meeting of 30 January 2006 and to the declaration by the European Union and the United States of 3 February 2006 on their relations with Belarus,
– having regard to the OSCE/ODIHR's election needs assessment mission report of 31 January 2006,
– having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Belarus presidential elections will take place on 19 March 2006,
B. whereas the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2000, 2001 and 2004 in Belarus did not meet international standards, according to the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE,
C. whereas the Belarus authorities are creating obstacles to the campaigning of the independent candidates, such as extremely short campaign time limits, extremely low financial limits, extremely restricted access to both public and private media, and dependency on the local authorities for choosing venues for meetings with voters, while the incumbent president has practically unlimited access to media,
D. whereas opposition representatives are almost entirely excluded from participation in the election commissions,
E. whereas a number of leading opposition figures have been detained following trials based on questionable charges, thus distorting the electoral process and confirming the abuse of the justice system in Belarus for political purposes and the lack of independence of the judiciary in the country,
F. whereas the Belarus authorities have adopted new regulations imposing restrictions on freedom of travel both by Belarus citizens abroad and foreign visitors to Belarus,
G. whereas the Belarus authorities have launched a campaign accusing some democratic countries which support the opposition of destabilising the political situation in the country and recruiting spies,
H. extremely concerned at the decision of 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,
I. stressing the increasing political isolation of Belarus, the only European country not yet linked to the EU by a partnership and cooperation agreement,
J. whereas the situation as regards the independence of the media and freedom of expression in Belarus has further deteriorated, as a result of which the people of Belarus cannot receive the information they need to freely form political opinions and to make a democratic choice in the forthcoming elections,
K. whereas a new project has been launched by the Commission aiming at supporting democratic organisation and freedom of information in Belarus, including setting up radio stations in Belarusian and Russian,
L. whereas the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called for a joint strategy with the EP and the OSCE on Belarus,
M. whereas no improvement has been noted with regard to investigations into 'disappearances', freedom of speech, freedom of assembly or minority rights,
N. whereas several international institutions of which Belarus is a fully accepted member, including the OSCE's ODIHR and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, have received an invitation to observe the presidential election, but whereas the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – unlike in the case of the presidential elections of 2001 – have not received such an invitation and have even been informed that no such invitation to observe the elections will be issued,
| 1. | Deplores the continuing deterioration of the political situation and the continuing | violations of the civil and human rights of the Belarusian people; strongly denounces indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists and minorities; condemns the decision of the Supreme Court of Belarus to dissolve the Belarusian Union of Youth and Children's Public Association (RADA); |
2. Is deeply concerned at the fact that, according to the most recent reports assessing the conditions for the presidential elections, the preparations are taking place against a background of increased constraints on civil society, independent media and the opposition political parties, which, following the 2004 parliamentary elections, have no representation in the Belarusian parliament;
3. Expresses its solidarity with, and support for, all Belarusians who strive for an independent, open and democratic Belarus based on the rule of law;
4. Calls on the Belarus authorities to strictly adhere to international standards in the preparations for the March presidential elections, in the registration and verification of candidates, during the campaign and in the election itself;
5. Condemns the recently adopted 'anti-revolution law', which amongst other things, allows the authorities in Belarus to imprison anyone suspected of providing training or financing the training of people to take part in street protests or anyone suspected of misinterpreting or providing information about the situation in Belarus in any foreign country or international organisation; urges the Belarus competent authorities to reconsider their decision and to reject the anti-revolution bill;
6. Stresses that the following criteria must be fulfilled if the presidential elections are to be recognised as free and democratic:
- –full transparency of the electoral process in all its aspects, in particular as regards the process of registering candidates, the composition of the electoral commissions and the counting of the votes,
- –equal conditions for all candidates in particular as regards access to the mass media, especially electronic media, and other possibilities for organising their election campaign,
- –all State and government bodies to refrain completely from any act that may be considered as harassment of candidates, their relatives or their supporters,
- –the guarantee that all those engaged in (especially non-candidate-related) presidential election observation and recruitment and training for these activities will be completely free to carry out their work, also in cooperation with international institutions, which constitutes an essential element in the transparency and verifiability of the electoral process;
7. Welcomes the invitation by the Belarus authorities to the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, but urges the responsible Belarus authorities to allow the OSCE/ODIHR mission to operate unimpeded in Belarus and to grant all participants in this election observation mission full and unrestricted access to the country and to all aspects of the election process;
8. Deeply deplores the fact that the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have – unlike in the case of the presidential elections of 2001 – received no invitation to observe these presidential elections and calls on the Belarus authorities to extend a corresponding invitation to both institutions as soon as possible;
9. Expresses its hope that possibilities will be created to increase the number of short-term international observers, by inviting representatives of other international organisations to observe this election in Belarus;
10. Calls on the Belarus authorities to allow independent exit polls to be conducted on the day of the elections;
11. Encourages the people of Belarus to participate in the forthcoming presidential elections; recognises the great importance of these elections, whose outcome may decisively influence the future of Belarus and its reintegration into the international democratic community;
12. Emphasises once again that the further development of the EU's relations with Belarus will continue to depend on the progress made towards democratisation and reform in the country, and in particular on transparent and fair presidential elections;
13. Considers that should the Belarus authorities fail to ensure free and fair presidential elections, the Commission, the Council and Parliament should consider further initiatives, including expanding the visa-ban list, particularly for those responsible for any falsifications during the forthcoming elections, as well as freezing the assets of representatives of the Belarus authorities;
14. Calls on the Council and the Commission to closely monitor the situation in Belarus in the run-up to and during the elections; calls on the Council and on the High Representative to consider appointing a Special Representative for Belarus, should respect for democratic principles further deteriorate; welcomes the Commission's recent decisions concerning the launch and extension of the broadcasting of independent news and information to the citizens of Belarus; invites the Commission to consider drawing up a new strategy for Belarus if the proceedings during and after the elections do not meet international democratic standards;
15. Expects such a strategy to include concrete proposals for a more flexible use of EU technical assistance and financial support for civil society, as well as other measures aimed at the restoration of democracy in the country;
16. Is encouraged by the Commission's transfer of EUR 2 m from TACIS to the European Human Rights and Democracy Initiative, thus allowing for greater flexibility and effectiveness in relations with Belarusian civil society;
17. Calls on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE and the United States Congress to work jointly with the European Parliament on Belarus;
18. Calls on the Council and the Commission to raise the issue of Belarus with the Russian authorities so as to define a common responsibility for bringing about concrete democratic changes in Belarus;
19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the
governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of Belarus, the United States Congress and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe.