While recalling the OSCE’s vital role in the resolution of conflicts and international disputes, as well as the key importance of the Organization’s involvement in promoting respect for human rights and the rights of national minorities, Minister Sikorski admitted that for many months some positive developments in that respect could be observed in Belarus. However, over the past weeks much of what was imposed upon the members of the Polish minority union in Belarus must, in objective terms, be called repressive and intimidating. Such actions stand in glaring contradiction to the fundamental values and declarations of the OSCE, including the 1990 Copenhagen Document. Minister Sikorski appealed to Minister Saudabayev to address these issues with particular attention. Minister Sikorski stressed that the recent steps by Belarus’s authorities were strictly contrary to the rapprochement policy towards Belarus, one initiated by Poland and pursued by the European Union. Therefore, it is of particular importance that issues relating to respect for the rights of minorities be addressed in multilateral relations.

Minister Kanat Saudabayev pointed out that his country attaches prime importance to the issues of respect for the rights of minorities, which is exemplified by the proper treatment of the Polish minority in Kazakhstan. Importantly, Minister Saudabayev pledged to attend to the problems which raise concern during talks with the Belarusian side, and at the forthcoming bilateral meeting between the two countries.

Piotr Paszkowski
Press Spokesman