[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  URGING GOVERNMENT OF BELARUS TO ENSURE DEMOCRATIC, TRANSPARENT, AND 
                         FAIR ELECTION PROCESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2004

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in support of H. Res. 
652, which calls on the government of Belarus to ensure that 
Parliamentary elections which will take place in Belarus in October of 
this year are democratic, transparent and fair.
  Thirteen years after the fall of communism, Belarus remains one of 
the few nations in Europe where the transition to democracy has not 
taken sufficient root.
  The current political leadership continues to rule in an 
authoritarian manner and its government continues to crack down on 
those individuals and organizations who are trying to help build 
support for democracy and democratic institutions.
  Unlike the situation in Ukraine, the government in Belarus has thus 
far not given any clear indication that it is committed to free and 
fair elections. However, in a recent meeting with the Ambassador from 
Belarus, this Member was led to believe that the government's position 
on the elections could be positive. The Ambassador gave assurances that 
the government would enforce the election codes and would allow all 
political parties to have representatives on the electoral commissions 
which oversee the implementation of the elections. He also indicated 
that Belarus would cooperate with the OSCE and would allow 
international observers.
  At a hearing the Europe Subcommittee held in March on Belarus, this 
Member mentioned that Speaker Dennis Hastert and this Member met with 
the leaders of the Belarus opposition, collectively known as the 
Coalition Five-Plus, to discuss the elections and their vision for a 
democratic future for Belarus. This group of political parties has 
united in a common platform in an attempt to bring democracy and 
respectability back to the Belarus Parliament. Unfortunately, members 
of the opposition political parties and participants in political 
demonstrations continue to be subjected to increased harassment, 
surveillance by government agents, arrests, and physical abuse.
  For these reasons, it is important that the United States Government, 
including this Congress, continue to emphatically express our strong 
support for free, fair and transparent elections and more definitive 
progress toward establishing a functioning democracy in Belarus.
  In Europe, the situation in Belarus understandably seems to be of 
equal concern. The OSCE, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the 
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have all expressed deep 
concerns over Belarus and its forthcoming elections. In fact, this 
Member is informed that the Chair of the Belarus Working Group of the 
OSCE PA recently visited Minsk for additional discussions on the 
elections.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 652 emphasizes that if Belarus is ever to become 
more integrated into the community of democratic nations, it must work 
toward the establishment of a genuinely democratic political system in 
which the freedom of association and assembly are guaranteed. It also 
must be a fact that political candidates from the opposition will be 
free from political harassment and intimidation as they campaign for 
office and in which the media is free to act independently, free from 
government control or intimidation. Finally there must be a system in 
which elections and the electoral process are open, transparent and 
fair if Belarus wishes to be included in the community of democratic 
nations.
  The parliamentary elections this fall will be a litmus test for 
President Lukashenko's commitment to democracy and the direction he 
intends to take Belarus in the future.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 652 rather precisely explains the 
concerns and recommendations of the United States House of 
Representatives.
  I urge the adoption of the resolution.

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