United States Mission to the OSCE

Statement on Belarus

Delivered by Deputy Representative Douglas Davidson
to the Permanent Council, Vienna

June 12, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, the OSCE's Office in Minsk reports that two more independent newspapers, Ekho and Navinki, have been suspended. Ekho was suspended for violations related to registration of name and thematic content. Navinki was suspended for defamation of the President. An investigation into a third newspaper, Solidarnost, has been launched for violations of advertising regulations and its offices have been closed.

Last week, the Russian Federation cautioned States against commenting critically on cases of suspended newspaper with appeals still before the courts. Yet, court appeals against warnings issued to yet another independent newspaper mentioned last week, BDG, have been suspended indefinitely.

As the OSCE Office in Minsk notes "these events are not citations of isolated incidents but rather represent a trend towards the systematic restriction of freedom of media." Such trends need to be addressed before this Permanent Council.

The United States is disappointed that the Belarusian government has reverted to its old ways. The recent closing of press outlets is a sign that the progress towards democratic reforms, we had all hoped for and encouraged, are apparently still not on its agenda.

The blatant oppression of the free press is part of a pattern of systematic rejection of OSCE commitments. Religious freedom, press freedom and the rights of Belarusian citizens to express themselves have not progressed one step beyond the situation of one year ago. Once again, Belarus is isolating itself from the standards of free societies.

The United States commends the OSCE Office in Minsk for keeping the Permanent Council apprised of these developments. We call on the Belarusian government to observe its OSCE commitments and lift all restrictions against the independent media in Belarus. We look to the Minsk Office and the Representative for Freedom of the Media to keep us informed of any new developments, positive or negative, and to consider ways in which the OSCE can best address the deteriorating state of media freedom in Belarus.

Thank you.