Belarus parliament elections

MINSK, 16 June (BelTA) – The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has decided on inter-parliamentary organizations that are to be invited to observe the elections on 11 September, BelTA has learned.

According to Speaker of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko, a big number of international observers usually work during the election campaign. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already suggested the OSCE/ODIHR and the CIS Executive Committee to send their observers to Belarus. The similar invitation will be prepared by the House of Representatives as well. According to Vladimir Andreichenko, this year invitations to observe the parliamentary election in the country will be sent to the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union State, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. PACE observers will also be invited.

“One major task is to help organize the work of foreign observers so that they could objectively assess the situation in the country, see for themselves that our elections are held in a calm, open and democratic atmosphere and in line with the national legislation. We have experience in working with observers. In the near future we will decide on the organization plan for this year,” said the speaker.

Vladimir Andreichenko stressed that the recent decision of the Central Election Commission to improve transparency of the election process would contribute to the objectivity of the international assessment of the elections. The Chairman of the House of Representatives noted that MPs should make the maximum use of the contacts with foreign counterparts to expand inter-parliamentary cooperation, use instruments of parliamentary diplomacy for the protection of the national interests of Belarus.

As for the invitation of representatives of the European Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering the matter. As was noted at the meeting, the issue will be decided later.

The number of observers for the 11 September parliamentary election will be announced later. However, according to the data of the 2012 parliamentary campaign, the number of international observers can make up some 600-700 people.