The Presidency of the European Union notes with regret that the local elections held in Belarus on 14 January 2007 did not meet democratic standards. Unfortunately the Belarusian Government failed again to create the basic conditions for voters to freely express their will.
The rights to freedom of opinion, of association and of assembly, as well as the rights of the opposition, were seriously impaired. The European Union has received reports of police raids on campaign offices, the registration of candidates being hampered and the arrest of opposition politicians and Belarusian election monitors. What is more, the practice of early voting, in some cases under duress, a process particularly prone to falsification, was used again. State agencies influenced the elections at all levels in favour of pro-government candidates.
The Presidency repeats the EU's offer to enter into a full partnership with Belarus within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Detailed proposals on this are to be found in "What the European Union could bring to Belarus", published in November 2006. The prerequisite for cooperation, however, is that the Belarusian Government clearly states its commitment to democratic values, human rights and the rule of law and tackles democratic reforms. The Presidency is disappointed that the Belarusian Government has squandered another opportunity to create a new basis for relations by failing to make a firm commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
