Press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
VIENNA, 12 March 2009 - The following is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE Participating States.
OSCE PA holds seminar on foreign investment in Belarus
MINSK, 12 March 2009 - The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Working Group on Belarus visited Minsk from 9 to 12 March, led by OSCE PA President Joao Soares. The delegation warmly welcomed the ongoing co-operation with the Belarusian Delegation to the OSCE PA.
On 11 March the Working Group hosted a Seminar on 'Improving the Climate for Foreign Investment,' which brought together a wide range of participants, including parliamentarians and economic experts from around Belarus and across Europe.
President Soares noted that this seminar was an important step in co-operation with the Belarusian Parliament. "Democracy needs the participation of all social groups. It needs free and fair elections, access to free media, and freedom of assembly. Democratization and economic development go hand in hand," he said.
"Belarus should not harbor any illusions. Without deep reforms and implementation there can be no economic benefits for Belarus in the near future," said Uta Zapf, Chair of the parliamentary Working Group.
The seminar was organized jointly with the Belarusian Delegation to the OSCE PA in co-operation with Germany's Friedrich-Ebert Foundation and with the support of the OSCE Office in Minsk.
The Working Group also held high-level meetings with parliamentary and governmental officials and exchanged views with representatives of civil society. In their meetings, Members of the Group stressed the importance of an open parliamentary dialogue, upholding Belarus' commitments as a participating State of the OSCE and the need to find peaceful, inclusive solutions to the country's political problems.
Members also discussed some of the progress being made with regard to freedom of the media but urged continued work in an open and transparent fashion in this area. Other developments noted positively by the Delegation include the release of political prisoners, registration of some political associations and media outlets and increased cross-border contacts with European neighbours. The delegation was disappointed to hear that some media outlets continue to face difficulties. The Delegation noted the positive dialogue with the European Union and expressed hope that co-operation with the EU will continue and become more substantive.
The 11 March seminar was the second in a series of joint seminars agreed upon in 2004 between the Belarusian Delegation to the OSCE PA and the Working Group.
The visit to Minsk included Working Group Members: Claudio D'Amico, Italy; Morten Hoeglund, Norway; Pawel Poncyljusz, Poland; and Cecilia Wigstrom, Sweden.
Contact: Klas Bergman, Director of Communications, OSCE PA. Tel. +45 33 37 80 40; Mob. +45 60 10 83 80; Email: [email protected]