Statement by the Dutch EU Presidency on the European Union Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Belarus

Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Peter Burkhard. The Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1199 on the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (United States of America, interpretative statement 1; Russian Federation, interpretative statement 2; Netherlands-European Union, interpretative statement 3; Canada, interpretative statement 4; Ukraine, interpretative statement 5). Ongoing aggression against Ukraine and violations of OSCE principles and commitments by the Russian Federation. Situation in Ukraine and the need to implement the Minsk agreements. Abduction and illegal detention of Ukrainian citizens by the Russian Federation. Threats against the political opposition and independent voices in the Russian Federation. Law on non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan. Criminal proceedings against members of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) (Tajikistan, Annex). Use of torture by military personnel of the United States of America. Rights of migrant children in the European Union. The death penalty in Belarus. Report on the activities of the Chairperson-in-office. Farewell to the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the OSCE, Ambassador A. Erfani. European Union Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Belarus. Presidential elections in Austria, to be held on 24 April 2016.