John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has communicated its concern relating to human rights abuses in Belarus to the Government of that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33291/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's continuing concern about the human rights situation in Belarus is communicated frequently to the Belarus authorities, principally through EU channels but also through bilateral diplomatic contacts, which are relatively active: the Ambassador of Belarus last visited Ireland in April, the Irish Ambassador visited Belarus in May. Our human rights concerns in Belarus were underlined on both occasions, as they were when the Belarus Embassy approached my Department before this week's Council discussion of Belarus. My visit to Belarus on 9 May was undertaken in my capacity as Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on UN reform and as such did not address directly the human rights situation in Belarus. Ireland supports the series of EU declarations made in recent months in response to the increasing repression of civil society in Belarus.

At its meeting in Brussels on 7 November, the General Affairs and External Relations Council again expressed its deep concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights and political freedoms in Belarus, mentioning specifically the harassment of political parties, independent media, NGOs and civil society organisations. The Council confirmed its determination to intensify the EU's support for democracy and human rights in Belarus and stated its readiness to take further appropriate restrictive measures against the responsible individuals in the event of failure to uphold international standards.

If the deteriorating human rights trend is not reversed, it is feared that next year's presidential election in Belarus may come no nearer to meeting international standards for free and fair elections than the unsatisfactory parliamentary elections and referendum of October 2004. Noting the importance of the presidential election, the Council called on the Belarusian Government to invite a full OSCE-ODIHR election observation mission and allow it to operate unimpeded and to ensure also that all eligible candidates are allowed to register, campaign freely and enjoy equal access to state-controlled media. Each of these elements needs to be pursued.

The Council reaffirmed the policy of limited ministerial contact with Belarus, highlighting at the same time the EU's willingness to engage with Belarusian officials. I welcome the announcement of new channels of contact for both Council and Commission with Belarus at official level. A point of contact on Belarus is being established under the authority of Dr. Javier Solana, who intends to send his personal representative for human rights, Mr. Michael Matthiessen, to Belarus before the end of the year. The Council reaffirmed the policy of limited ministerial contact with Belarus, highlighting at the same time the EU's willingness to engage with Belarusian officials. I welcome the announcement of new channels of contact for both Council and Commission with Belarus at official level.

In the same timeframe, the Commission intends to open a regionalised delegation in Minsk. My hope is that increased contact at official level will help to broaden the EU dialogue with Belarus and thereby contribute over time to an improvement in relations. The Council has again reiterated this week its willingness to have closer and better relations with Belarus, once the authorities there demonstrate respect for democratic values and the rule of law. The choice is theirs.