Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-02-15-Speech-3-120"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2006-02-15"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Belarus in the run-up to the presidential elections on 19 March (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20060215.12.3-120"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2006-02-15-Speech-3-1212
lpv:speaker	lp:Jan Marinus Wiersma2
lpv:spokenAs	member; AFET (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 member; Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners (2006-01-19--2007-02-14)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (2004-09-15--2009-07-13)3 member; SEDE (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 substitute; TRAN (2004-07-21--2007-01-14)3 vice-chair; PES (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 unknown; Partij van de Arbeid (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Romania Joint Parliamentary Committee (2004-09-15--2006-12-31)3
lpv:translated text	". Mr President, on 16 December last year, the parliament in Minsk – which is not a democratically elected body – agreed to Lukashenko’s proposal that the presidential elections be brought forward to 19 March. This is an illustration of the wholly high-handed way in which Mr Lukashenko operates, and also a demonstration of the absence of any intention on his part to hand over power by way of the election process. That is why we once again have to fear an extremely fraudulent course of the democratic process in Belarus. The opposition bears the brunt of the decision. How can it launch a campaign if its candidates end up in gaol, like the Social Democrat Mr Statkevich, and if all mass media are controlled by the regime? The authorities are trying their level best to make life for the opposition as difficult as possible and they also have more than halved the election campaign period. We must continue to draw attention to these blatant violations of our democratic values in one of the EU’s neighbouring countries. Whilst we must underline once again that Lukashenko’s policy is unacceptable, we must also emphasise once more that in the event of a change in direction, the road to a closer relationship with the EU is open. What more can we do? It is regrettable that the relationship between Lukashenko and the European Parliament has deteriorated to the extent that we have not – unlike the OSCE – been invited to take part in the observation mission. Whilst that is, on the one hand, a good sign, in that it is the consequence of our consistently critical stance towards the regime in Belarus, we must also, on the other, ask ourselves why the European Parliament could not simply take part in the OSCE mission as the EU’s official representation. We are pleased with the invitation to the OSCE, but we also want to stress that more than lip service is needed in respect of the international standards to which Belarus, as a member of the OSCE, has committed itself. We therefore hope that the OSCE mission can go about their normal business and urge the Belarusian Government to lend them a hand. Finally, despite the deteriorated circumstances – four years ago, I took part in the observation and I think the situation now is even worse than it was then – we must make every effort, and above all, not refrain from doing anything, to support the opposition which managed to put forward a joint candidate this time round. I hope that Parliament, with today’s statement, will in any event give the opposition and candidate Alexander Milinkevich a moral boost."@en1

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