People Of Belarus
Situation of Human Rights in Belarus
That senior officials of the Government of Belarus have been implicated in the enforced disappearance and/or summary execution of three political opponents of the incumbent authorities in 1999 and of a journalist in 2000 and in the continuing investigatory cover-up, as documented in the report adopted in resolution 1 371 of 28 April 2004 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and endorsed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on September 30, 2004; Over the findings of the Final Report, dated December 9, 2004, of the Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which stated that the October 17, 2004 parliamentary elections in Belarus fell significantly short of OSCE commitments, that the October 17, 2004 referendum to eliminate term limits on the presidency took place with unr ... [Read More]
Belarus (10/04)
Russia is the largest partner for Belarus in the economic and political fields. In terms of trade, two-thirds of Belarusian exports go to Russia. Due to the structure of Belarusian industry, Belarus relies heavily on other CIS countries and Russia in particular both for export markets and for the supply of raw materials, energy, and components. The introduction of free trade between Russia and Belarus in mid-1995 led to a spectacular growth in bilateral trade, which was only temporarily reversed in the wake of the financial crisis of 1998. The framework for the Russia-Belarusian Union was set out in the Treaty On the Formation of a Community of Russia and Belarus (1996), the Treaty on Russia-Belarus Union, the Union Charter (1997), and the Treaty of the Formation of a Union State (1999). The integration treaties contain commitments to monetary union, equal rights, single citizenship, and a common foreign and defense policy. They also have established a range of institutions modeled aft ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Cyprus is a destination country for women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Traffickers who forced women into prostitution continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas. There was increasing evidence of Chinese women being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cyprus made some progress in its anti-trafficking efforts over the past year. The new police anti-trafficking unit produced successful results and showed vigilance in combating the problem. Government recognition of the problem improve ... [Read More]
U.S. Statement on the Resolution on Human Rights in Belarus
Elections were held that according to the Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), significantly short of commitments Belarus made. Belarusian authorities failed to create the conditions, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of media, to ensure that the will of the people serves as the basis of the authority of government. ... [Read More]
2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Belarus
The Constitution provides for freedom of association; however, the authorities severely restricted this right in practice. The Government continued to employ an elaborate system of laws and regulations governing the registration of organizations for the purpose of restricting the ability of individuals to form associations that might be critical of, or not susceptible to manipulation by, the Government. All NGOs, political parties, and trade unions are required to register with authorities, and it is illegal to act on behalf of an unregistered organization. Legislation on the registration of public associations remains extremely strict; registration procedures are costly and onerous, requiring the number of founders to be specified, their names, and a legal address for the organization, which is in a nonresidential building. Individuals listing themselves as members are vulnerable to retribution. More important, the refusal of the Government to rent premises to organizations of which i ... [Read More]
Press Availability at the NATO Ministerial
In terms of the European Union -- we're obviously not members of the European Union, we're not a part of this debate, individual countries have to make their choices but we have been very supportive of the European project, of its completion, of the European Union. And we have developed, and I think, increasing developed a good partnership with the European Community -- European Union -- and the Commission and all of the structures of the European Union. ... SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Well, there is an unfolding situation, of course, in Ecuador and our concerns are, first of all, that all people involved make certain that they don't resort to violence in any way. What is needed now is calm in Quito and in Ecuador, more generally. What is needed is a path to maintain a constitutional framework on anything that happens there. And I'm quite certain that there will be plenty of help and plenty of counsel, including from members of the Organization of American States to help the Ecuadorians to chart a path toward a more permanent constitutional arrangement to respond to the political crisis that has emerged there. ... [Read More]
Belarus Expulsion of Polish Diplomat (Taken Question)
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Conviction of Belarus Opposition Figures "Outrageous," Says U.S. - US Department of State
The United States is very disturbed by the Government of Belarus' persistent abuse of the legal system to suppress peaceful dissents and to prevent Belarusians from exercising internationally recognized human rights. The number of prominent Belarusians who have been imprisoned for expressing dissent with the Lukashenko regime continues to increase, and includes Mikhail Marinich, Valeriy Levonevsky, Aleksandr Vasilyev, Sergey Skrebets, and Andrey Klimov. Such repression is an assault on democracy and the Belarusian people, and is in flagrant contravention of Belarus' OSCE commitments. ... [Read More]
Conviction of Belarusian Opposition Figures
The United States is very disturbed by the Government of Belarus persistent abuse of the legal system to suppress peaceful dissents and to prevent Belarusians from exercising internationally recognized human rights. The number of prominent Belarusians who have been imprisoned for expressing dissent with the Lukashenko regime continues to increase, and includes Mikhail Marinich, Valeriy Levonevsky, Aleksandr Vasilyev, Sergey Skrebets, and Andrey Klimov. Such repression is an assault on democracy and the Belarusian people, and is in flagrant contravention of Belarus OSCE commitments. ... [Read More]
Lukashenko Referendum Announcement
The Government of Belarus persistent violations of human rights and democracy have unfortunately isolated Belarus from the world community rather than leading it to the respected position Belarus should rightfully enjoy among Europes democracies. Given this poor track record, President Lukashenkos decree calling for a referendum to eliminate institutional term limits for the presidency and allow him to run again for president in 2006 raises grave doubts whether the results will freely and fairly reflect the views of the Belarusian people. We reiterate our call upon the Government of Belarus to ensure that the Belarusian people are able to debate, vote and have their votes counted according to international democratic standards on October 17 and thereafter by taking immediate steps to uphold Belarus international democracy and human rights commitments. ... [Read More]
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