OSCE Office supports project on local democracy in Belarus

MINSK, 25 August 2003 - A delegation of six representatives from Belarusian local authorities today began a study trip to Lithuania. The five-day trip is a part of an OSCE Office in Minsk project on Local Democracy and Assistance to Local Government Development in Belarus, with the support of the Association of Local Authorities of Lithuania.

The goal is to learn from the experience of self-government in neighbouring countries. The study tour will assist the authorities of Belarus in the promotion and development of the concept of local democracy and support the development of professional contacts with foreign partners in the field.

"We are encouraged that the first of a series of study-tours has now started," said Vahram Abadjian, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk "We look forward to positive results and continued co-operation in this and other projects."

The programme, proposed by the Lithuanian association, includes meetings with the city municipalities of Vilnius, Svencionys, Ignalina, Moletai and Klaipeda.

This trip to Lithuania is the first phase of a larger project, comprising a number of study tours for Belarusian local authority representatives to Poland, the Czech Republic and Latvia. Participants are nominated by the Belarusian authorities and by the public association Lev Sapiega Foundation.

During the study tour the Belarusian delegation will learn from the Lithuanian experience in fields such as the implementation of the provisions of the 'Charter on Local Government in Lithuania' and the creation of regional social structures and financing resources.

On completion of the study tours, the OSCE Office will host a concluding conference on Local Government Development in Belarus on the Basis of the Foreign Experience with the participation of experts from the Council of Europe and all participants of the study tours.

The next study tour to Poland is planned for September 2003.