Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political situation in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13494/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In reply to parliamentary questions on 24 November and 2 February last, I outlined my views on the parliamentary elections in Belarus on 17 October 2004 and described Ireland's relationship with Belarus. I also informed the House about the EU Council conclusions on Belarus of 22 November 2004. I made it clear that the continuing lack of any democratic reform in Belarus, and the self isolating economic and foreign policies of the Belarus authorities, are matters of real concern to Ireland and to the European Union. At the same time, I underlined that the EU wishes to foster a more positive trend in Belarus.

In the year since the accession of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, which made Belarus a direct neighbour of the EU, the Union has been paying closer attention to policy towards Belarus. The focus in the short term is on next year's presidential elections. If they are prepared and held in accordance with OSCE commitments for democratic elections, to which Belarus as an OSCE participating state has freely subscribed, these presidential elections could be an occasion for Belarus to move closer to European values. The Council made clear last November that if the Belarus authorities reversed their present policies and embarked on fundamental democratic and economic reforms, Belarus could have the benefit of closer economic integration and political co-operation with the EU under the European neighbourhood policy. While the EU will do what it can to encourage such an evolution, it must and will respect fully the fundamental principle that it is for the people of Belarus to choose their own course.

I must say, with regret, that the political situation and prospects in Belarus at this point are quite discouraging. When the EU Foreign Ministers discussed Belarus again at their informal meeting in Luxembourg on 15/16 April, a number of Ministers, including myself, expressed concern about the deteriorating political and social situation in the country. There are frequent reports, including from the 11 EU member states who are represented in Minsk, of tightening control by the authorities over civil society groups and of harassment and intimidation of opposition circles. Suppression of independent media outlets has left an information vacuum.

The authorities appear to be pursuing a policy of de-registering independent NGOs so as to cut off funding to them. They seem intent on limiting foreign travel by Belarusian citizens, including possibilities for studying abroad. Many of these issues are mentioned in a resolution adopted last week by the UN Commission on Human Rights, which drew also on a report by its special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, as well as on a recent OSCE report on freedom of the media. In addition, the CHR resolution urged the Government of Belarus to respond urgently to a number of cases of grave human rights abuses, dating back several years, which it has failed to clarify; these cases involve disappearances, summary executions and torture. Ireland, along with all other EU member states, the United States and Canada co-sponsored the resolution.

Pursuant to the November Council conclusions, a series of workshops with NGOs and other interested actors was organised by the Commission in recent months to co-ordinate assistance to civil society in Belarus. The meetings identified a number of possible approaches to working more flexibly and efficiently with Belarusian NGOs and independent media, and encouraging democratic participation. Ireland favours a strengthening of contacts with civil society in Belarus with a view to encouraging and supporting democratic reform at grassroots level. In this context, we are mindful that great care must be taken to ensure that the EU does not inadvertently provoke further repression of civil society and opposition forces.