The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Belarus and in particular its resolution of 5 July 2001(1),

–   having regard to the statements made on 8 May(2) and 4 June 2002 by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on Belarus-OSCE relations,

–   having regard to the statement made on 6 June 2002 by the Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council on Belarus-OSCE relations,

–   having regard to the decision of the OSCE Permanent Council of September 1997 to establish the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG),

A.   whereas the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) has, since its establishment under the responsibility of its former Head of Mission, Ambassador Hans-Georg Wieck, made an important contribution in promoting democracy and the establishment of democratic institutions in Belarus and in advancing economic and social progress; whereas it judges the work of the AMG in Minsk to have been very successful in supporting the resumption of the dialogue between the presidential administration and the opposition,

B.   whereas the Belarus authorities have continuously tried to reduce the effectiveness of the OSCE AMG Mission's activities,

C.   whereas the Belarus authorities have refused to grant the necessary visa to the newly appointed Head of Mission, Ambassador Eberhard Heyken,

D.   whereas the Belarus authorities refused on 15 April 2002 to extend the visa of the former Acting Head of the OSCE AMG, Michel Rivollier, and on 3 June 2002 refused to extend the visa of the Acting Head of the OSCE AMG, Andrew Carpenter,

E.   whereas the refusal to grant a visa to Ambassador Heyken and the de facto expulsion of Mr Rivollier and Mr Carpenter have created a situation in which the OSCE AMG is no longer in a position to perform its duties,

F.   whereas the EU-Belarus partnership and cooperation agreement did not enter into force owing to the lack of democracy in Belarus, and whereas a continuing degradation of the cooperation between Belarus and the OSCE and a further lack of respect for basic human rights and democratic institutions cannot be without consequences for relations between Belarus and the European Union; whereas it is, at the same time, more necessary than ever that a constructive dialogue between the EU, the OSCE and the Belarus authorities continues with a view to avoiding the isolation of the country,

1.  Welcomes the major efforts undertaken by the OSCE AMG Mission to implement democratic reform and economic and social progress in Belarus and to respect the rules of the international community;

2.  Strongly condemns the refusal of the Belarus authorities to cooperate actively with the OSCE, the European Union and other international institutions in their efforts to promote democracy and the establishment of democratic institutions in Belarus and to advance economic and social progress;

3.  Deeply regrets the Belarus authorities' decision to refuse the necessary visa to the newly appointed Head of Mission of the OSCE AMG, Ambassador Eberhard Heyken, and the de facto expulsion of the former Acting Heads of Mission, Mr Rivollier and Mr Carpenter;

4.  Calls on the Belarus authorities to issue the necessary visa immediately to the newly appointed Head of Mission of the OSCE AMG, Ambassador Eberhard Heyken, and to other members of staff of the AMG appointed by the OSCE;

5.  Urges the Belarus authorities to fulfil the country"s obligations as a member of the OSCE and to remove all obstacles to the development of normal relations between Belarus and the OSCE, the normal functioning of the OSCE AMG in Belarus and all other activities to promote democracy and the establishment of democratic institutions in Belarus and to advance economic and social progress;

6.  Urges the Commission to review, in the light of the further developments concerning the establishment of the OSCE AMG in Belarus, the effectiveness of its TACIS democracy projects, and to consider the possible closing of its TACIS office in Belarus if the work of the OSCE AMG cannot be resumed;

7.  Calls on the President of Russia, given the special ties between Russia and the EU and the union between Russia and Belarus, to bring pressure to bear on the Belarus President and authorities to ensure that they review their position and find a positive way out of this situation;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, the OSCE Presidency and the Government and Parliament of Belarus.

(1) OJ C 65 E, 14.3.2002, p. 373. (2) 8813/2002.