Chairman-in-Office urges Belarus to extend visa of OSCE official
(OSCE)The new OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister
Antonio Martins da Cruz, took up his office on 6 April 2002. (OSCE) Photo details
LISBON, 12 April 2002 - The Chairman-in-Office (CiO), Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, is deeply concerned about information indicating that the Belarusian authorities see no grounds to extend the visa and diplomatic accreditation of the Acting Head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Minsk, Michel Rivollier.
"Consultations are currently underway within the OSCE on the future programme of work of the Advisory and Monitoring Group", the CiO said. "An untimely decision affecting the status of the Acting Head of Group would undoubtedly have a negative impact on these consultations."
The CiO added that this would also prevent the proper functioning of the Group in Belarus and could lead to a serious deterioration of the co-operation between the OSCE and Belarus and to the adoption of appropriate measures.
"Consultations are currently underway within the OSCE on the future programme of work of the Advisory and Monitoring Group", the CiO said. "An untimely decision affecting the status of the Acting Head of Group would undoubtedly have a negative impact on these consultations."
The CiO added that this would also prevent the proper functioning of the Group in Belarus and could lead to a serious deterioration of the co-operation between the OSCE and Belarus and to the adoption of appropriate measures.