B4-0728, 0732, 0756, 0758, 0770 and 0784/98

Resolution on the situation in Belarus

16/07/98

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Belarus,

- having regard to the Council's Common Positions of 9 and 13 July 1998 concerning Belarus,

- having regard to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,

A. whereas the Government of Belarus has taken or allowed measures to be taken affecting the residences of ambassadors from 22 countries, including several from EU Member States, at the Drozdy compound in Minsk,

B. whereas these measures, in particular the beginning of construction and repair work on the site, the interruption of power and water supply, and the blocking of access for cars, make any further peaceful use of the residences concerned impossible and therefore severely impede the performance of the diplomatic missions concerned,

C. whereas these measures, taken by or with the consent of the Government of Belarus, constitute a serious infringement of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and are contrary to the principle of friendly relations among states,

D. whereas the Member States of the European Union have therefore decided to recall their ambassadors from Minsk and to request Belorussian ambassadors accredited to them to return to Minsk,

E. emphasising that the European Union, by way of a partnership and cooperation agreement with Belarus, has sought to reinforce its relations with Belarus and to give its full support to the necessary process of economic and democratic reform in that country,

F. regretting that the government of Belarus has so far been unable to fulfill the necessary conditions for ratification of this agreement and has thus prevented further integration of Belarus in the economic and political structures of Europe,

G. noting that an OSCE assistance and monitoring group has made constant efforts to promote the reestablishment of democratic structures in the country,

1. Gives its full support to the Council's Common Position of 13 July 1998 concerning Belarus;

2. Calls on President Lukashenko and the Belarus Government to comply fully with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and to restore immediately the full and unimpeded use of the EU ambassadors" residences in Minsk and not to obstruct the performance of those diplomatic missions in any other way;

3. Calls on the Government of Belarus to fulfil immediately the necessary conditions for an improvement in relations between the European Union and Belarus by taking the necessary steps in the process of economic and democratic reform and respecting international standards in the field of good governance and respect for human rights, and not to hinder the implementation of the TACIS civil society development programme;4. Gives it full support to the OSCE assistance and monitoring group in its constant efforts to promote the reestablishment of democratic structures in the country and calls upon the OSCE member states to extend its mandate beyond 1998; calls for free and fair presidential elections to be held in 1999;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States, the OSCE and the Government of Belarus.