OSCE Office contributes to local and self-government discussions in Belarus

MINSK, 1 December 2003 - The OSCE Office in Minsk will conclude a project on local and self-government with an international seminar in the Belarusian capital tomorrow.

The seminar, on Conceptual Issues of the Development and Perfection of the System of Local Government and Self-Government will bring the experience of neighbouring countries to Belarus and make proposals and recommendations for a Belarusian concept in this field.

"The new Belarusian concept of self-governance, which is being developed at present, is one of great significance," said the Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk, Ambassador Eberhard Heyken.

"Project activities undertaken by our Office in 2003, and this conference in particular, are a positive contribution to the implementation of the concept."

The seminar concludes the OSCE Office's project on Local Democracy and Assistance to Local Government Development in Belarus. This year, four study tours took place in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Participants included representatives of the Belarusian local authorities nominated by both the Belarusian Foreign Ministry and the non-governmental organization Lev Sapiega Foundation. The programmes for the tours were proposed by the Associations of the Local Governments of the receiving countries.

The seminar, organized in co-operation with the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, will gather the participants of the four study tours, as well as experts from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Council of Europe (Denmark, France, Germany, Poland and the UK), from the neighbouring countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine), and Belarusian experts.