Chair of EP Subcommittee on Human Rights: “There are many politically motivated criminal cases in Belarus”
- 1.03.2010, 14:11
The Finnish MEPs is not sure the EU’s decision on developing a dialogue with the Belarusian authorities was absolutely right.
Heidi Hautala, a Finnish MEP and Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, told BelaPAN she expressed a hope that Belarus would “take into account the experience of other countries to improve the human rights situation”.
Hautala and her three colleagues paid a visit to Minsk on February 25–27 within the framework of the EP official mission to study the situation in Belarus. The MEPs have meetings with representatives of the authorities, opposition, civil society, and national minorities.
The Finnish MEP noted the Belarusian government cooperates with the United Nations Human Rights Council and the human rights situation is monitored in universal peer reviews. According to her, the Belarusian authorities also cooperate with NGOs.
“The main problem is that Belarus has much pressure, there are many politically motivated criminal cases against the persons criticising the governmental policy. This is my impression. I can’t imagine it may change during the visit,” Hautala said.
The MEP emphasized the EU stands for respect for human rights, European values, and rule of law.
“Both dialogue and cooperation with Belarus should be based on these values. Frankly speaking, I see many problems there,” she stated.
Hautala said the EP representatives were advised to “think over a possible dialogue between the EU and Belarus”.
“Anyway, I think we need negotiations. Belarus is a European country, it has European history, it is a member of the European family. However, I can’t be sure that the EU’s decision on developing a dialogue with Belarus was absolutely right,” the Finnish MEP noted.
The Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights said that after the Treaty of Lisbon had taken effect, the European Parliament received more weight in the European institutions and conclusions of the mission would be “give due attention” when considering a joint interim plan on supporting reforms in Belarus proposed by the European Commission.