Andrea Joy Campbell: “periodically, I have addressed my colleagues in the United States Senate on developments in the last dictatorship in…”

“periodically, I have addressed my colleagues in the United States Senate on developments in the last dictatorship in Europe Belarus. More the 5 months have passed since the September 9, 2001 Belarusian Presidential elections, which the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well at the Helsinki Commission, which I chair, concluded did not meet international democratic standards. Since that time, the Belarusian leadership has had ample opportunity to begin to live up to its freely- undertaken OSCE human rights and democracy commitments. Thus far, these opportunities have been squandered. As Secretary of State Powell remarked in his speech at the December 2001 meeting of OSCE Ministers in Bucharest: The Government of Belarus ignored the recommendations of the OSCE on what conditions would need to be established in order for free and fair elections to take place. It is unfortunate, indeed, that the government of Belarus continues to act in a manner that excludes Belarus from the mainstream of European political life. Since September, human rights violations have continued. There has been no progress with respect to resolving the cases of opposition leaders and journalists who 'disappeared' in 1999--2000. Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenka has retaliated against opposition members, independent journalists, human rights activists and others, especially young people.”