Maya Kachiyanchich: We Urge Belarus' Authorities To Take Immediate Reforms In The Electoral Legislation

Democratic process is impossible without electoral reforms.

Maya Kachiyanchich, Press-Secretary of the EU High Representative on foreign and security policy, stated that in the interview to Belsat.

- Mrs. Maya, why did foreign, at least, the Belgian press ignore the "elections" in Belarus?

- The international press did not ignore them; I cannot agree with you, we saw articles in the press... Maybe some media did not notice this event: "parliamentary elections" in Belarus, I can agree with you, were not on the agenda that day, but, anyway, we read all the articles in the press carefully and observed those elections.

- Perhaps, your careful attention and the delay of the OSCE conclusions caused later official "statement" of the EU on "elections" in Belarus... What is the sense of that statement?

- The European Union, once again, very carefully observed everything that was connected with the organization of the "parliamentary elections" in Belarus. The OSCE monitoring group followed the "elections", and then we got acquainted with their report and all previous statements and conclusions.

The EU statement on "elections" notes some efforts made by the Belarusian authorities towards basic democratic values and, at the same time, captures a large amount of system uncertainties of the Belarusian policy, including, for example, strict rules citizens live under, which often limit their rights and freedoms. It is noteworthy that many recommendations of the ESCE have been ignored by the Belarusian government. It makes us once again urge the Belarusian authorities to urgent reforms of the electoral legislation in accordance with these recommendations of the OSCE.

- What do you expect to hear on the part of the Belarusian government?

- Our message is a clear one: Belarus authorities need to take further efforts towards reforms of the electoral legislation, and promotion of respect of democracy principles, rule of the law and human rights. The European Union supports and will support Belarus, its democratic and stable future. We will cooperate to provide our support to the people, ordinary Belarusians. What's more important is that this cooperation is the key to the development the full potential of relations between the European Union and Belarus.

- You have mentioned reforms of the electoral legislation... It seems that after the "presidential elections" last year the Belarusian authorities promised to reform the electoral legislation and to make significant steps towards democratization of Belarus... Are you disappointed or, on the contrary, satisfied with these changes?

- Indeed, a significant part of OSCE recommendations, as well as the Venice Commission on reforms in the electoral legislation are still being ignored by the Belarusian authorities. This means that the Belarusian leadership urgently needs to roll up its sleeves and work in this direction. We once again urge them to do so immediately, because we hope that they will realize: without electoral reforms as part of broader efforts (to be implemented as soon as possible) the democratic process in the country is impossible.

- Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei has recently marked himself at one of EU summits... Is it possible to see Lukashenka in Brussels in the near future, if the Belarusian authorities fulfill the EU requirements?

- We have made it clear how the EU sees relations with Belarus. The EU has outlined its expectations for further steps of an official Minsk. Let's hope that these steps will finally be done.