Written Answers. - Disturbances in Belarus.
Ray Burke
Ceist:
93
Mr. R. Burke
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's response to reports of clashes between Belarusian police and protesters on 17 November 1996 during a demonstration involving several thousand protesters against the referendum to extend President Alexander Lukashenko's term in office which will be held next week.
[22841/96]
Ireland, together with partners in the European Union, is deeply concerned at developments in Belarus with regard to the constitutional referendum. The demonstration in Minsk on 17 November reflected the ongoing dispute in this context between supporters of the President and the Parliament with regard to the respective roles of each. The controversial referendum proposes to give the Presidency substantially greater powers at the expense of the Parliament and the Constitutional Court, as well as extending the President's term of office.
The concerns of the Government and the European Union regarding the referendum have been made known to the Belarussian authorities on a number of occasions. I raised these concerns in a meeting, on 24 September, with the Foreign Minister of Belarus at the United Nations General Assembly. They were also conveyed by the Troika of EU Ambassadors in Minsk on 14 October following discussion of the situation by EU Foreign Ministers at the Special European Council in Dublin on 5 October.
On 18 October, a Declaration was issued by the European Union calling on all parties to reach a solution which fully respected the prerogatives of Parliament and the Constitutional Court and democratic principles. On 30 October, the matter was raised again in contacts with the Ambassador of Belarus to Ireland, H E Mr. Shchasny.
In addition, I have, in my capacity as President of the Council of the European Union, written to President Lukashenko expressing the Union's deep concern at the increasing divisions in Belarus over the referendum, the irregularities in the preparations for, and conduct of, the referendum and concerns about its constitutionality. The letter also called on Belarus to respect its OSCE commitments and internationally accepted constitutional principals. It made clear the Union's interest in political and economic reform in Belarus and its willingness to assist in that process.
In spite of these approaches, and efforts also by the Russian Government and Parliament to promote a compromise settlement, the referendum went ahead on 24 November. The proposals for constitutional change were carried. The President has stated that he will consider the result binding notwithstanding the decision of the Constitutional Court on 4 November that if the referendum went ahead it should be consultative in nature only.
Most recently, the matter was discussed at the General Affairs Council on 25 November. The Council issued a Declaration reiterating the Union's serious concern at the situation, and expressed the Union's deep regret that President Lukashenko had stated his intention to declare the result of the referendum binding. The Union urged President Lukashenko, in the strongest terms, to obey the ruling of the Constitutional Court that the referendum should be of a consultative nature only.
The Government and the European Union remain seriously concerned at the developments in Belarus and are continuing to monitor the situation, with a view to any further appropriate action.
