Statement by the OSCE Chairmanship on allegations against the OSCE office in Belarus

VIENNA, 15 December 2000 - The Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Jutta Stefan-Bastl, has made the following statement on behalf of the OSCE Chairmanship:"The Chairmanship would like to draw attention to the broadcasting of reports by Belarusian state television criticising Ambassador Hans-Georg Wieck and the work of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, alleging that 'the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group has been involved in anti-Belarusian and anti-constitutional activities.'

Ambassador Wieck's efforts always concentrated on balancing out the different positions of the Belarusian Government and the opposition forces, in order to support Belarus in strengthening its democratic process.

The OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group fulfils its mandate in Belarus and, accordingly, maintains contact with governmental institutions, non-governmental public organisations - including opposition parties that are registered according to the laws of the Republic of Belarus - and with such institutions that are recognised by European Institutions as democratically legitimate structures of the country.

In our opinion, state television has a public responsibility. These reports cannot be seen as an isolated opinion of a single journalist, but can be taken as a kind of campaign against the OSCE and the Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, in particular against Ambassador Wieck.

The OSCE Chairmanship regrets the broadcasting of such a report, as co-operation with the Belarusian authorities in good faith was always a priority for the Chair and the Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus. We trust that we can fully rely on Belarusian Foreign Minister Khvostov's statement to continue good co-operation with the Advisory and Monitoring Group and its Head." (end of statement)

For further information, contact Andrew Carpenter, political counsellor, OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, tel.: 375- 17 272 34 97; fax: +375 17 272 34 98, e-mail: osceamg@osce.org.by ; or the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: + 431- 514 36 180, e-mail: info@osce.org