Council of Europe Information Office opened in Minsk (Photo)

According to Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, “Nothing could provide a more convincing evidence of their willingness to join the family of European countries which have abolished this cruel and inhumane form of punishment.” The Council of Europe Information Point, opened in the building of the Institute of Journalism of the State Belarusian University, will allow to “promote its [the Council of Europe] core values of the protection and promotion of pluralist democracy, Human Rights and the rule of law,” “Salidarnasts” newspaper writes.

Samuel Žbogar, Foreign Minister of Slovenia, holding the EU presidency, said the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe remained committed to the fact that Belarus will soon join “the common European family”.

He emphasized much would depend on how strong Belarus would commit to the fundamental democratic principles, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhei Martynau noted such an office was first opened in a state that is not a member of the Council of Europe.

“The opening of the information office of the Council of Europe in Minsk will bring the cooperation between Belarus and the Council of Europe onto a new level,” he said. “It is a good will of the country’s leadership and a serious political signal demonstrating the openness of Belarus to the Council of Europe.”

Martynau expressed a hope that activity of the Council of Europe Information Point would allow to “know Belarus better, dispose of old clichés, give impact to our relations”.

Some hours after the opening ceremony, PACE Rapporteur Andrea Rigoni told in an interview to BelaPAN a decision on returning a status of special guest in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the “house of representatives” of Belarus, which is to be taken at a PACE session in Strasbourg on June 23, couldn’t be regarded as a gift.

Restoring of this status is connected with checking whether Belarus meets the requirements of the Council of Europe, Rigoni said. He added his report asked the Belarusian authorities to take concrete steps towards democratization of the country.

He noted that the reports called on fulfilling such fundamental democratic values as freedom of registration of political organizations and movements, freedom of media, freedom of expression, and imposing a moratorium on capital punishment and changes in electoral legislation of Belarus.

Rigoni says his report gives a year for Belarus to implement these steps. He added it wasn’t mere words, because the Council of Europe and the PACE want to see concrete results. The special guest status may be extended or cancelled following the results of the check in a year.

Ms Belarus 2008 Volha Khizhynkava was welcoming the European guests at the red ribbon. It was found put that the girl was a first-year student of the faculty of journalism.

Syarhei Martynau, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio and Samuel Žbogar exchanged civilities near the Institute of Journalism, said good bye and went away.

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