Falling off in Belarus-OSCE relations

Vice head of the ”chamber of representatives” Viktar Guminski says that the OSCE PA working group on Belarus led by Uta Zapf is moving towards a confrontation with Belarus.

“I feel very sorry about the unconstructive position taken by the head of the OSCE PA working group on Belarus,” Viktar Guminski said during a press-conference held Wednesday in Minsk to discuss the participation of the Belarusian delegation in the OSCE PA session, Interfax-Zapad reports.

He pointed out that the working group has chosen “confrontation, pressure, blackmail and threats”. “This leads nowhere and we will never achieve positive results this way,” he added.

Viktar Guminski said the working group operates occasionally, and is only fueled by sessions. He remarked that the leader of the group lacks either an opportunity or a desire to visit Belarus. “During the last year I did not receive a single note from Ms Zapf”, the vice-speaker stressed.

“What was said during the session doesn’t look like an attempt to build a bridge in cooperation. Cooperation was not discussed at all; only confrontation, economic sanctions and ways to enhance their effectiveness,” Viktar Guminski said.