BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/09/2008

Belarus: MFA Press Secretary Andrei Popov answering a media question about the preliminary conclusions of the international monitoring missions published today with regard to the parliamentary elections in Belarus

Question: What's your assessment of the preliminary conclusions of the international monitoring missions published today with regard to the parliamentary elections in Belarus?

Answer: The elections came about as a fact of life and, as explicitly set out in the conclusions of the international monitors from both OSCE and CIS, they were completely consistent with the national law. That's what matters most.

The monitors have also taken note of the significant improvement in the co-operation between the authorities of the Republic of Belarus and international organizations in terms of the conduct of elections. They also acknowledge that the authorities of Belarus have done a lot to improve the preparation and conduct of the election process in the country.

In particular, the monitors from the CIS and the Union State of Belarus and Russia who have an in-depth knowledge of the historical and political realities of our region, put a specific focus on the early and unrestricted invitation extended to the international monitors; providing the political parties who nominated their candidates for parliament with the right to have their representatives stand on the Central Election Commission with a consultative voice; large-scale visual advertising in public places and media to keep the voters informed about the elections; the measures stepped up by the Central Commission to rule out double voting; openness and transparency of how the Central Commission acted. It is important that the OSCE monitors, too, acknowledge that the Belarusian authorities have made quite a few positive steps. They include, in particular, larger involvement of the opposition activists with the district election commissions; doubled air time for the candidates in the e-media at prime time; steps made by the Central Election Commission to protect the ballot boxes properly during the early-voting period; enabling the opposition candidates to hold unobstructed meetings with voters in designated places.

We regret to note that the OSCE has not appreciated the importance of those steps to a full extent. What is essential, though, and I would put it again is that it is the OSCE's view that the authorities of Belarus have done a lot to improve the election arrangements and that the efforts of Belarus have put a good basis to the further co-operation with a view to improving the election law and practices in the country.

As we understand, the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus for Elections and Republican Referenda will study the monitors' conclusions professionally including their final versions once they have been received. That's the foundation that will underlie the Commission's co-operation with the international organizations.

Source:

http://www.isria.info/RESTRICTED/D/2008/OCTOBER_3/diplo_30september2008_62.htm

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