Belarus’ Deputy Foreign Minister on OSCE Ministerial Council meeting: most EU states slipped into unfounded accusations

In response to the ‘deep concern’ of a number of European Union countries about the observance of human rights in Belarus, which they stated during the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, the head of the Belarusian delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Ambrazevich, made a statement

The diplomat noted, “None of our critics in this hall will convince me that the human rights situation in their countries is better. To make sure that I am right, it is enough to get acquainted with the results of the Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council for each of the Western countries. If this is also not enough, I suggest that the Maltese Chairmanship include an analogue of this review for the OSCE members in their work programme in the OSCE. I suggest starting with Latvia.”

Mr. Ambrazevich also responded to accusations or suggestions of forced displacement or deportation of children from Ukraine, “The answer here is very short. Not a single name has been provided. We are waiting for this.”

In his speech, the Belarusian representative noted that ordinary people in the OSCE countries believe that the purpose of such meetings is to solve important problems. “I am glad that a number of speeches here meet these expectations. Unfortunately, most of the NATO and European Union states have slipped into repeating well-known clichés and far-fetched, unfounded political accusations against the Republic of Belarus made in the convenient and popular ‘highly likely’ style,” he said.