Parliamentary Assembly talks focus on OSCE and Belarus

COPENHAGEN, 5 September, 2000 - Mr. Adrian Severin, MP (Romania), President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, held a series of meetings and talks in Vienna on 29 August - 1 September.

A large number of international organizations, including relevant Parliamentary and OSCE institutions, held a conference in Vienna on 30 August to discuss the international community's policies and action in conjunction with the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus on 15 October 2000. The conference was preceded by a meeting, chaired by Mr. Severin, between the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and Council of Europe and also the European Parliament. These parliamentary institutions have cooperated as a "Parliamentary Troika". The conference also heard representatives of the Government and opposition in Belarus. After lengthy discussions it was agreed that in spite of progress, all conditions for free and fair elections in Belarus are not met. Therefore there are no conditions for full scale international monitoring of the elections. However, it was also agreed that some representatives of the international community, namely the "Parliamentary Troika" and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, will be present in Belarus during the elections. In his statement during the conference Mr. Severin emphasized that the international community needs to continue its dialogue with different political forces in Belarus in order to promote the development and consolidation of democracy.

On 31 August Mr. Severin addressed the Permanent Council of the OSCE. In his speech, as well as in talks with representatives of the OSCE leadership and representatives of a number of OSCE participating States, Mr. Severin introduced his plans to expand the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly and strengthen its role in the OSCE decision making process.

On 1 September Mr. Severin met with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the Austrian Foreign Minister, Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The talks dealt with the development and future activities of the OSCE.

During his visit Mr. Severin also met Ambassador Jutta Stefan-Bastl, Chairperson of the Permanent Council and Ambassador Jan Kubis, Secretary General of the OSCE.

On the margins of his programme Mr. Severin also met the Austrian Federal Chancellor, Mr. Wolfgang Schüssel and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Alfred Gusenbauer.

For further information please contact Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor of the OSCE PA, e-mail press.counsellor@oscepa.dk, tel. +45 33378040, fax. +45 33378030.