Jerzy Buzek on the current situation in Belarus in regards to the latest arrests of the members of Polish minority
In connection with the arrests of 40 activists of the Union of Poles in Belarus (ZPB), today at 3pm in Warsaw EP President, Professor Jerzy Buzek will meet Aliaksandr Milinkevich, leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus. Over the past few days, the Belarusian authorities have carried out trials against leading activists of ZPB. Mrs Angelica Borys, who is the head of ZPB, has been sentenced to pay a large fine against her private company practically causing its collapse. ZPB is the third largest association in Belarus, representing nearly half a million Poles.
President of EP warns:
Jerzy Buzek underlines that Belarus violates the commitments made by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and warns of the consequences: "The Belarusian authorities must consider how much the country can benefit from good relations with the EU and how much it might lose by violating the principles of democracy. Without democracy, Belarus will not be able to make use of the supporting instruments offered to it in the framework of the EU's neighbourhood policy."
Debate and resolution in the European Parliament:
The President of Parliament announced that he will encourage the European Parliament to have a debate and urge for a resolution on the situation in Belarus: "The European Parliament cares about the democratic forces in Belarus. There is now time for a European debate on this issue in the European Parliament."
Special mission by the EP:
Jerzy Buzek will also meet with members of a special mission who will visit Belarus on 25-27 February ("fact-finding mission"): "The EP mission will examine the situation on the ground in Belarus. A partnership with Belarus is still possible, but democratic principles need to be respected."
Constant contact:
The President of the EP Jerzy Buzek is in constant contact with Angelika Borys, head of the ZPB, and with the Polish authorities. He also informed Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs about the situation in Belarus, as well as MEPs: "The attack on ZPB is an attack on all democratic opposition in Belarus; it is a violation of human rights, minority rights and freedom of non-governmental organisations."
On several occasions, the President of the EP Jerzy Buzek has previously appealed to the Belarusian authorities to respect democratic principles. Recently the Head of the EP Delegation with Belarus in the European Parliament, Jacek Protasiewicz, and the previous EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering have visited Belarus. In 2004, the Sakharov Prize (awarded by the EP 'for freedom of thought') was given to the Belarusian Association of Journalists and in 2006 to the leader of the democratic opposition forces in Belarus - Alexander Milinkevich.
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Invitation for journalists (Warsaw, 16/02/2010 - Tuesday):
15:00
Photographers are invited to the start of the meeting between Buzek and Milinkievich at the European Parliament Information Office in Warsaw, ul. Jasna 14/16a.
16:00
Press conference of President Jerzy Buzek and Alexander Milinkevich, at the European Parliament Information Office in Warsaw, ul. Jasna 14/16a.
An MP3 file will be available from the EP Information Office after the conference at:
http://www.europarl.pl/view/pl/Media/materialy_mediow.html
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For further information:
Inga Rosińska
Spokeswoman
Mobile: +32 498 981 354
Robert A. Golański
Deputy Spokesman
Mobile: +32 475 751 663