OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HOM IN MINSK HANS-JOCHEN SCHMIDT

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLAS STATE 073788 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OSCE, PREL, PGOV, BO SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HOM IN MINSK HANS-JOCHEN SCHMIDT 1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the July 16, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna: Begin text: Thank you, Madame Chairwoman. The United States welcomes Ambassador Schmidt to the Permanent Council. We appreciate the opportunity to hear from you what the Office in Minsk is doing to promote work in the OSCE,s three dimensions. We strongly support the mandate of the Office and welcome the achievements cited in the report in the human dimension, the media, and in combating trafficking of human beings. A key role of the Office should be to encourage the development of civil society. Ambassador Schmidt,s report details the work the Office has done in this respect. We believe the Office can and should do more to function as a resource and an ally for those seeking to advance OSCE principles. As such, we urge the Office to broaden its base of contacts within Belarusian civil society. Ambassador Schmidt also notes the Office,s presence as an observer at a number of demonstrations and public rallies. While we commend the Office,s work in observing these public events, we would hope to see a greater role for the Head of Office in this regard. We continue to be concerned by the long process needed to get proposed projects approved by the government. We encourage the Belarusian authorities to work cooperatively with the Office on project approval as well as with Belarusian civil society to advance the respect for OSCE principles in Belarus. Ambassador Schmidt, the United States, given its severely constricted diplomatic presence in Minsk, understands the challenges the Office faces in using limited resources to fulfill its mandate. Nevertheless, outreach to and engagement with human rights activists, independent trade unionists, independent political parties and NGOs is oneamong the most important functions. This work is particularly vital in Belarus, and wOSCE effortse urge the Office to expand its activities in this area. Thank you, Madame Chairwoman. End text CLINTON