OSCE Bucharest meeting on Belarusian elections

COPENHAGEN, 14 June 1999 - The initiation of a process of dialogue on democratic elections between personalities from various Belarusian organizations took place from 11-13 June 1999, in Bucharest, under the auspices of a joint effort between the Working Group on Belarus of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) and the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus (OSCE AMG).

The participants were drawn from Belarusian political parties, non-governmental organizations and trade unions and were gathered by the parliamentary and governmental sides of the OSCE to investigate common ground for free and fair elections that all political forces in Belarus could participate in and which all could subsequently recognize.

"The discussions took place in an sincere atmosphere with a positive spirit", said former Foreign Minister of Romania Adrian Severin (MP-Romania), who is the Head of the OSCE PA ad hoc Working Group on Belarus. "We have started a discussion on common denominators that could bring together a consensus for political participation in democratic elections."

The closed-door sessions were held continuously for three days without breaks and touched on a number of issues which divide the Belarusian political arena, however, the OSCE organizers were pleased to note a number of areas of agreement between all participants. Foremost among these was the need for access to the state-controlled media for all political actors in the transitional country. "We have begun a process here," said Ambassador Hans-Georg Wieck, Head of the OSCE AMG. "A very useful dialogue with areas of mutual agreement for many Belarusian political actors has been explored."

"I believe this was a highly successful effort," added Severin, "and we must now begin the next steps to continue the 'Bucharest Process' and to broaden this dialogue." The OSCE PA and the OSCE AMG plan to continue their joint efforts in the near future with the participation of official Belarussian institutions. Three summaries of the discussion reflecting the debates on political parliamentary process, elections and mass media, are being drafted for all participants, in order to prepare for a future round of dialogue. A number of participants circulated various ideas which are also being compiled for consideration as grounds for further progress.

Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly ad hoc Working Group and the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group were joined in Bucharest by the Secretary General of the OSCE PA, Mr. Spencer Oliver, and the Rapporteur of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Political Affairs Committee, Mr. Wolfgang Berhendt.