Belarusian foreign minister says OSCE in acute crisis
January 20, BPN. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is experiencing an acute crisis, Belarusian Foreign Minister Siarhiej Alejnik told reporters following the Belarusian and Russian foreign ministries’ annual board meeting in Minsk.
“This crisis is systemic and applies to all three baskets, the so-called three dimensions – politico-military, economic and human,” Alejnik said, as quoted by the foreign ministry’s press office on January 19.
He said that numerous conflicts in the OSCE’s area of responsibility proved that the organization’s confidence-building measures had devalued. The erosion of mechanisms “did not start yesterday. It’s been underway over the past few years,” he added.
He went on to accuse the OSCE of not implementing a “serious economic project” in recent years “that would bring real benefits to our countries’ citizens.”
The OSCE’s human dimension had “an obvious, total distortion,” he continued. “They stubbornly lash all the countries east of Vienna. What can you say, if for many years the OSCE has not even been able to develop common standards for election observation. […] Not to mention the fact that the OSCE has not reacted in any way to the illegal nature of economic sanctions, which affect citizens and their rights. I’m not even talking about mobility and restrictions on the movement of citizens in the OSCE region, imposed by many western members of the organization,” the minister said.
He concluded by saying that the OSCE “has turned into a battleground.” “This house needs an overhaul today,” Alejnik said.
Minsk shut down the OSCE’s Office in the Belarusian capital over 10 years ago. In 2020, seventeen OSCE states invoked a special mechanism to investigate human rights violations in the country. Rapporteur Wolfgang Benedek found that that year’s presidential election was not transparent and fair, and condemned mass human rights abuses.
- Politics, SocietyMahiloŭ State University will train “military-patriotic” PE teachersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja, Zourabichvili discuss cooperation, Russian meddlingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka invites Serbian president to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets Trump's Ukraine-Russia envoyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityZelensky: Putin views Belarus as Russian provinceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SecurityUkrainian emergency workers tackle drone strike aftermath at Chernobyl nuclear plantThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja links prisoners’ release to pressure on regimeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: former customs officer’s high treason charge trial beginsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAt least 33 sent for forced treatment on political grounds since 2020The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityHomiel region checks radiation after Zelensky reports Chernobyl strikeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyRunaway athlete’s ex-husband back in Minsk, ready to cooperate with investigatorsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsImprisoned activist's book declared extremistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank’s net foreign-currency assets up 0.7 percent in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMAZ truck sales in Russia drop 32 percent y/yThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk’s rights violations amount to crimes against humanity – UN expertsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelGee sales in Russia falling since NovemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsGovernment brands 18 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCichanoŭskaja condemns Russia’s drone attack on Chernobyl reactor shieldThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyPro-government sociologists: more than 70 percent trust law enforcersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsEcuador's president congratulates Łukašenka on seventh term in officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Belarusians’ online activities in focusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets with US diplomat who took prisoners out of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to build 4.5 million sq. m of housing this year, more than in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMore than 27,000 genetic passports issued in Belarus – scientistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityBelarusian drill draws on the experience of war in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityCIS draft anti-terrorist program sent for revisionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportInvestigators launch probe against dissident athlete's ex-husbandThe material is available only to POZIRK+