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US and EU United in Calling for Democratic Belarus
14 February 2006
In a joint statement of February 3, 2006, the United States and the European Union called for free and fair presidential elections in Belarus on March 19. The US and EU stated that they will “will judge the results and respond accordingly.” Mosnews.com reported on January 31 that EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner listed sanctions as a possible consequence.
The February 12 edition of London’s Sunday Times, noted that violence might occur if the presidential elections are seen as fraudulent. The opposition has promised to take to the streets to celebrate if they are victorious and to protest otherwise. The Times quoted current president Alexander Lukashenko as threatening, “If there are any provocations, we’ll give them such a going-over they won’t know what’s hit them.”
The Times article reported that Lukashenko recently signed a law allowing him to order police to shoot demonstrators. According to the article, members of the opposition expressed the knowledge that any protests would have to be so massive that police would be unable to threaten violence. The article reported that the main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich as well as another opposition leader had been informed by “disgruntled police” that they would join protesters if the protests were large enough.
At a briefing at Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty in Washington, DC on February 7, Belarusian reformers stressed the need for the international community to support the democratic process before and after the upcoming election. While the opposition might not win this time around, they argued, it may be possible to establish a framework and foundation for future democratic reform. Among other things, the reformers identified a law preventing foreign money from being used to support NGOs and a lack of media access as impediments to international support.
According to the reformers, since October 2005, 31 independent newspapers have disappeared.
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