The United States would like to restate its strong support for Ambassador Wieck and his staff. We are proud of his work and stand with him as he presses forward to implement his mandate.

We are concerned about continued efforts by the Belarusian government to undermine the ability of the Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) to carry out its mandate. More importantly, these same efforts undermine Belarus' commitments to democratic principles.

In a recent letter to Ambassador Wieck, the Belarusian government claimed that the AMG's election observation project does not comply with the Belarusian Constitution and the Election Code.

However, Belarusian law states that "expenditures incurred in the preparation and conduct of elections shall be covered by the State." In no instance does the law speak to the conduct of election observation. In a country based on the rule of law, it cannot be true that all that is not specifically allowed is in fact forbidden.

We firmly believe and support the AMG's view that the financial support for the independent observation structures does not impair its objectivity. We further believe that the AMG has fully met its obligation to consult with the government regarding this project. It is also important to note that the Belarusian Government lodged no such complaint against domestic election observation efforts coordinated with the AMG over the last three years it has been involved in this activity. Lastly, we recall the Chairman's conclusions drawn at the February 15 Permanent Council Meeting stressing the importance of domestic election observation and the need for all projects to move forward.

Unfortunately, the issuance of Decree No. 8 which seeks to regulate the receipt of foreign assistance, if implemented, will prevent Belarus from meeting established international criteria for free and fair elections.

The right of citizens to partake in democratic political activity, including the right to vote, is at the core of OSCE commitments. Efforts to interfere and obstruct associated activities, including non-partisan training in civic rights by international organizations and voter literacy campaigns, on the basis of Decree no. 8, would undermine fulfillment of those commitments.

The Advisory and Monitoring Group's March 21 Spot Report documents complaints filed by observers in connection to the March 18 by elections. The report reinforces the value of a domestic election observation effort to restoring the confidence of the international community in democratic processes in Belarus. Any attempt to undermine the ability of independent observers to fulfill this function would consequently undermine international confidence in Belarus elections.

The United States wants to be clear in this matter. We join with the EU and others in calling upon Belarus to withdraw Decree 8. The United States has repeatedly pledged to respect the outcome of Presidential elections, if they are the product of free and fair elections. This pledge was repeated by senior State Department Official Jon Purnell during a visit this week to Minsk.

Thus, we urge Belarus to demonstrate by its actions its commitment to democratic institutions underlined in OSCE documents and the work of the AMG in assisting it to develop those institutions and meet those commitments. In that way, Belarus can move forward in establishing conditions for free and fair elections the international community can recognize.