European parliament has compromise resolution on Belarus
However, the final resolution is to be passed and released to the public in the evening of January 14 or even on January 15 only, Volha Stuzhinskaya, director of the Brussels-based Office for Democratic Belarus told the European Radio for Belarus. “I know that one text based on all the proposals has been prepared. It will be discussed either late tonight or most likely tomorrow”.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, a MEP and the deputy chairman of the foreign relations committee at the European Parliament, said in an interview with the European Parliament of Belarus that the draft resolution contains both the paragraphs that welcome the actions of the Belarusian authorities and the wishes of further democratization of this country.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz: “Of course, there has already been a compromise resolution draft. It will apparenty be released tomorrow. What is there? There is a recognition that there are no political prisoners in Belarus, but there are freedom restrictions for various people. There is also a wish that Belarus raise the issue of the electoral laws by making it meeting democracy standards. There is also an expectation that the process of registration of political parties and NGOs would be improved. There is also a problem with the press. Only two newspapers were granted permission to access distribution network. However, there are 13 more newspapers".
According to Janusz Onyszkiwicz, the resolution also mentions concrete steps of the further cooperation between Belarus and the European Union, e.g. the participation in the Eastern Partnership program and the reduction of Schengen visa costs for Belarusians.
But Volha Stuzhynskaya says it is still early to expect any concrete measures after the hearing of the European Parliament deputies. The resolution is just of consultative nature.
Volha Stuzhynskaya: “They can just increase a number of discussions to raise these issues. But they can't resolve anything. A resolution of the European Parliament is only of a consultative nature”.
The European Parliament is still working on a common draft of the resolution on Belarus.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, a MEP and the deputy chairman of the foreign relations committee at the European Parliament, said in an interview with the European Parliament of Belarus that the draft resolution contains both the paragraphs that welcome the actions of the Belarusian authorities and the wishes of further democratization of this country.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz: “Of course, there has already been a compromise resolution draft. It will apparenty be released tomorrow. What is there? There is a recognition that there are no political prisoners in Belarus, but there are freedom restrictions for various people. There is also a wish that Belarus raise the issue of the electoral laws by making it meeting democracy standards. There is also an expectation that the process of registration of political parties and NGOs would be improved. There is also a problem with the press. Only two newspapers were granted permission to access distribution network. However, there are 13 more newspapers".
According to Janusz Onyszkiwicz, the resolution also mentions concrete steps of the further cooperation between Belarus and the European Union, e.g. the participation in the Eastern Partnership program and the reduction of Schengen visa costs for Belarusians.
But Volha Stuzhynskaya says it is still early to expect any concrete measures after the hearing of the European Parliament deputies. The resolution is just of consultative nature.
Volha Stuzhynskaya: “They can just increase a number of discussions to raise these issues. But they can't resolve anything. A resolution of the European Parliament is only of a consultative nature”.
The European Parliament is still working on a common draft of the resolution on Belarus.
