Other State Department Archive Sites

The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released online from January 1, 1997 to January 20, 2001. Please see www.state.gov for current material from the Department of State. Or visit http://2001-2009.state.gov for information from that period. Archive sites are not updated, so external links may no longer function. Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
February 25, 1999

Belarus: Arrest of Central Election Commission

The United States views with great concern the arrest today of Viktor Gonchar, head of the Central Election Commission, and 14 Commission members by government security forces. We call on the Government of Belarus to release the Commission members immediately and to begin working with the democratic opposition to resolve Belarus’ longstanding constitutional impasse.

The constitutional dispute is a direct result of the illegitimate 1996 referendum. The Belarusian Constitutional Court ruled the referendum unconstitutional and the United States, the European Union, the OSCE Troika and Parliamentary Assembly, and much of the international community rejected it. President Lukashenko nevertheless used the referendum to augment his powers and extend his term of office by 2 years.

Belarus should resolve this constitutional impasse by creating a truly democratic political process in which all elements of society, including the opposition, can take part. A good place to start would be revision of the local election law in line with the Minsk OSCE mission’s recommendations. A full year of opportunity has passed while the government ignored the OSCE mission’s legislative recommendations and attempts to facilitate dialogue.

[end of document]