Belarus might get Special Guest status in the Council of Europe, Director of Political Advice says

The head of the Directorate of Political Advice in the Council of Europe Secretariat is confident of Belarus' accession to Council of Europe.

Belarus is destined to join the Council of Europe, Alexandre Guessel, head of the Directorate of Political Advice in the Council of Europe Secretariat, told a group of Belarusan reporters in Strasbourg last week.

He acknowledged that there was little contact between the Council of Europe and Belarus at present but stressed that the country's accession to the organization was just a matter of time.

According to BelaPAN, Alexandre Guessel said that the Belarusan legislature could have its Special Guest status in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly restored at any moment provided both sides wanted that.

According to Alexandre Guessel, Belarus may be discouraged from joining the Council of Europe after studying the experience of Russia, a member of the organization that has been hit by some unfavorable rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. He referred to the court's recent ruling that requires Russia to pay €1.87 billion in compensation to the owners of now defunct oil company Yukos.

At the same time, he said, none of the 47 member states has quit the organization so far, although countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia are on the receiving end of severe criticism.

Belarus has already signed some of the conventions of the Council of Europe, said Alexandre Guessel.