Sergei Martynov: Belarus is for strong but just OSCE

Belarus wants to see OSCE strong but just, foreign minister of this country Sergei Martynov has told journalists today.

In his words, together with Russia Belarus insists on reforming this organization. “It is necessary to level the thematic and geographic misbalance in the OCSE activities. Today virtually all its actions are centered in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Middle Asia and Caucuses. As if Western Europe had no problems. Sure it has,” the minister emphasized.

Speaking about the thematic misbalance he meant that the humanitarian issues prevail over the military and political ones. “We do not doubt the importance of the former. However the political and military issues are not least important as they ensure international security. To take the OSCE expenditures, for instance, just 4 percent of the organization’s budget are allocated for the economic and ecologic spheres. Belarus, as a country greatly affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe, is interested in drawing attention to these spheres, Sergei Martynov noted.

The head of the foreign ministry also spoke about the OSCE activities in terms of election monitoring. When elections are held in Belarus or Kazakhstan, thousands of observers are sent to these countries, while only 25 people go to monitor US elections. I can’t call it equal conditions, the minister stated. Apart from that, predominantly representatives of states located to the West of Vienna come to monitor our elections. “Let amend all that. We believe that if OSCE fails to adapt to the new realities and fails to reform, it will gradually disappear. We would not wish such an end to this organization. We want to see OSCE strong but just,” Sergei Martynov concluded.