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ForMin Aurescu: Romania will keep on calling on Belarus authorities to stop repression, start dialogue with opposition
Romania will keep on calling on the Belarusian authorities and their supporters to stop repression and intimidation and start a genuine dialogue with the opposition and civil society, to no longer launch ungrounded accusations against neighboring nations and act responsibly for the construction of social peace and prosperity, based on democracy and respect for fundamental rights, in a free, independent and sovereign Belarus, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Friday, as he delivered a speech at an informal UN Security Council meeting on the situation of human rights in Belarus, co-organized by Estonia, the UK and the US, and co-sponsored by Romania, alongside Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.
Speakers at the meeting included Belarus' opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya; the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus Anais Marin; as well as representatives of the Viasna Human Rights Center and the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
"Defying all risks, the people of Belarus have taken to the streets to demand respect for their fundamental rights, freedom of expression, free and fair elections, freedom to express their own options for a better life in a - I want to emphasize this - democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus," the Romanian chief diplomat pointed out, as cited in a release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this context, Aurescu spoke about the Romanian 1989 Revolution. "As a Romanian, I would like to mention the fact that, 30 years ago, I witnessed such a national awakening in the streets of Timisoara, Bucharest and many other cities in my country," the ForMin confessed.
Referring to Belarus, he pointed out that "recourse to violence and repression, as well as ignoring calls for genuine dialogue, are simply unacceptable."
"The whole world has expressed its admiration for the people of Belarus, represented by you, Mrs. Tikhanovskaya, and by the courageous journalists. You have asked the international community to support the principles and norms promoted by the UN and we are obliged to respond," he said, noting that "together with the EU and its member states, Romania condemned the violation of human rights, did not recognize the result of the elections and demanded the release of all political detainees, along with the fast start of political dialogue."
Aurescu also spoke about the sanctions proposed in this case. "We also support the EU's imposing sanctions against those responsible for repression and the falsification of election results, and we are looking for ways to support the Belarusian civil society and the free media," he said.
The ForMin rejected "accusations of interference with Belarus' internal affairs." "This is not a case of external interference; it is a case of violation of international commitments to respect fundamental human rights and democratic norms and principles. The Belarusian citizens deserve that their rights are respected and the international community must take effective action," he pointed out.
In this context, the Minister reiterated the decision to allocate a voluntary contribution of 100,000 euros from the 2020 budget for development and humanitarian assistance managed by the Foreign Ministry and the Agency for International Development Cooperation (RoAid), to support civil society and independent journalism in Belarus through the European Endowment for Democracy. He also expressed support for OSCE efforts to facilitate a direct dialogue between the authorities and civil society.
In conclusion, Bogdan Aurescu pledged Romania's support for fulfilling the aspirations of Belarusian citizens to live in freedom, in an independent, sovereign and democratic state.
Address by Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu
Dear Chair, Dear Urmas,
Esteemed colleagues,
Esteemed briefers,
I thank Estonia for organizing this Arria-formula meeting, which Romania is co-sponsoring. It is timely and more than opportune in the light of the ongoing political crisis in Belarus.
Mr. Chair,
Disregarding all personal risks, the citizens of Belarus took to the streets to demand respect for their fundamental rights, freedom of speech, fair and free elections, freedom to make their own choices for a better life in - I stress it - a democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus.
As a Romanian, I can point out that we have seen such national awakening on the streets of Timisoara, Bucharest and many other cities of my country, 30 years ago.
Our experience and others’ prove that when people go to the streets, in such large numbers, representing all parts of the society, it is a clear indication that new beginnings should be allowed to freely ascend.
The recourse to violence and repression and turning a deaf ear to calls for genuine dialogue are simply not acceptable. Favoring repression instead of genuine dialogue cannot bring a lasting solution, but risks to produce more suffering and great losses for all sides.
The world stood in admiration of the people of Belarus, represented by you, Mrs. Tsikhanouskaya, and of the courageous journalists. You called on the world community to support the very principles and norms the United Nations stand for, and we are bound to react.
Along with the EU and its member states Romania has condemned the violations of human rights, did not recognize the results of the elections and called for release of all politically motivated detainee, along with a swift commencement of political dialogue.
We also support sanctioning by the EU of those responsible for the repression and election fraud, and look for ways to uphold civil society and free media in Belarus.
To this end, as I have previously announced in Berlin, at last week’s Gymnich reunion, Romania will allocate 100.000 Euros to the European Endowment for Democracy to fund specific projects in Belarus, in support of the civil society and independent media.
But more needs to be done by all of us, especially in political terms, in all relevant fora, also here, at the UN, and also from the part of the UN Security Council members themselves, in order to respond to the expectations of the Belarusian people.
The OSCE Chairmanship in Office, Albania, together with the incoming CiO Sweden have proposed to go to Minsk to promote dialogue, a proposal favored by a majority of states. We still hold the view that genuine political dialogue is possible and necessary.
The world community needs, in fact, to properly put at work all the tools it developed to support human rights and fundamental freedoms, be they at UN, Council of Europe or OSCE level.
We also reject the accusations regarding interference in internal affairs of Belarus. This is not an issue of external interference; it is an issue of the breach of international commitments to respect the fundamental human rights, and the democratic norms and principles. The people of Belarus deserve that their rights are respected, and the international community has to act efficiently.
Romania will continue to call on the Belarus authorities and its supporters to stop repression and intimidation, to start genuine dialogue with the opposition and civil society, to stop unfounded accusations against neighboring nations and act responsibly for building social peace and prosperity, based on democracy and respect for fundamental rights in the free, independent and sovereign Belarus.
Thank you!