[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1606-E1607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        DEVELOPMENTS IN BELARUS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 1999

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today marks the expiration of 
the term of office of authoritarian Belarusian President Alyaksandr 
Lukashenka under the 1994 Belarusian Constitution. To nobody's 
surprise, Mr. Lukashenka is not abandoning his office, having extended 
his term of office until 2001 using the vehicle of an illegitimate 1996 
constitutional referendum.
  Since Lukashenka was elected five years ago, Belarus has witnessed 
nothing but backsliding in the realm of human rights and democracy and 
a deterioration of the economic situation. The Belarusian Government 
continues to violate its commitments under the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) relating to human rights, 
democracy and the rule of law. At the root of these violations lies the 
excessive power usurped by President Lukashenka since his election in 
1994, especially following the illegitimate 1996 constitutional 
referendum, when he disbanded the Supreme Soviet and created a new 
legislature subordinate to his rule.
  Freedoms of expression, association and assembly remain curtailed. 
The government hampers freedom of the media by tightly controlling the 
use of national TV and radio. Administrative and economic measures are 
used to cripple the independent media and NGOs. Political opposition 
has been targeted for repression, including imprisonment, detention, 
fines and harassment. The independence of the judiciary has been 
further eroded, and the President alone controls judicial appointments. 
Legislative power is decidedly concentrated in the executive branch of 
government.
  The Helsinki Commission, which I Chair, has extensively monitored and 
reported on the sad situation in Belarus, and has attempted to 
encourage positive change in that country through direct contacts with 
Belarusian officials as well as through the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in 
St. Petersburg earlier this month overwhelmingly supported a resolution 
encouraging democratic change in Belarus, including the conduct of free 
and fair elections next year. As Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the 
OSCE PA, I urged my fellow parliamentarians to join me in calling for 
the release of ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Chygir and the guarantee of 
free access to the media by opposition groups. In addition, I joined 
125 delegates representing 37 of the 54 participating States in signing 
a statement which offered more harsh criticism of the political 
situation in Belarus, condemned the use of violence against Supreme 
Soviet members and representatives of the democratic opposition, and 
protested their detention.
  Within the last few days, there appears to be some glimmer of hope in 
the gloomy Belarusian predicament. According to a July 17 joint 
statement by the OSCE PA ad hoc Working Group on Belarus and the OSCE 
Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) in Belarus: ``The Belarusian 
President states his commitment to the holding of free, fair and 
recognizable parliamentary elections in

[[Page E1607]]

Belarus next year, as well as his support for a national dialogue on 
elections to be held between the government and the opposition.'' I 
agree with the Working Group and AMG's emphasis on the importance of 
``access to electronic media for all participants in the negotiations, 
and a political climate free of fear and politically motivated 
prosecution.''
  Mr. Speaker, while I welcome this statement, I remain guarded, given 
Mr. Lukashenka's track record. I very much look forward to its 
implementation by the Belarusian Government, which could be a positive 
step in reducing Belarus' isolation from the international community 
and the beginnings of a reversal in the human rights situation in that 
country.

                          ____________________