‘Hold free and fair elections and relations will improve’

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 16/02/06

Belarus has been told it could see a rapid improvement in relations with the international community if it moves towards making this March's presidential elections free and fair.

On a visit to Brussels this week, George Krol, the US ambassador to Minsk, said that relations between Belarus and the EU and US could still be repaired if the Belarussian authorities stepped back from the brink by allowing basic democratic freedoms and improving human rights.

"If they could move on these areas, which are of great concern, then there would be actions taken to improve relations and to remove many of the restrictions that have been placed since 1997."

That year saw the EU and US reduce contacts with the regime after a referendum extended President Alexander Lukashenko's term in office and the constitution was revised to consolidate his powers.

In the international community few expect the elections to be free and fair. The polls look set to return Lukashenko to office for a unprecedented third term.

The EU and US have been working closely together on Belarus since a meeting between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius almost a year ago.

"It is important for the Belarussian people to see that there is a unity of support for Belarus," said Krol.

The EU and US were forced last month to call off a joint visit by two of their most senior diplomats after the Belarussian authorities refused to issue visas.

Robert Cooper, director-general in the Council of Ministers secretariat and Daniel Fried, the US assistant secretary of state for European affairs, wanted to explain their concerns about the elections.

Krol said that the message would still get through. "In subsequent discussions between the Belarussian authorities and American and European Union officials or diplomats these point will continue to be reiterated," he said.

"The message has always been that we are open and that we will always be open and it is up to the Belarussian authorities to respond to that openness."

But with the EU and US facing limited options to redress the lack of democratic progress, they are increasingly talking up incentives for Belarus to improve relations.

"I think there will be responses to every step taken - as we would view it - in the right direction and commensurate with the step that they take," said Krol.

Non-governmental reports from inside the country have warned that introducing economic sanctions could disproportionately affect ordinary Belarussians.

l EU-funded television broadcasts in Belarus are expected to begin soon in a bid to provide balanced information about the election campaigns.

The broadcasts will be carried out by a consortium led by Media Consulta, a German company, which won the tender after it changed its Russian partner from the controversial Centre Television to RTVi.

Belarussian opposition groups had complained that Centre Television had too strong ties with Lukashenko's government. RTVi is owned by the exiled media tycoon Vladimir Gusinksy.

Comments by George Krol, the US ambassador to Belarus. Krol said that relations between Belarus and the EU and US could still be repaired if the Belarussian authorities were to stepp back from the brink by allowing basic democratic freedoms and improving human rights.