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PACE puts forth several conditions to start dialogue with Belarus

European parliamentarians met Belarusian human rights activists on Wednesday, October 2

STRASBOURG, October 3 (Itar-Tass) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) can start a dialogue with Belarus if Minsk observes several conditions: to impose a moratorium on death penalty and free all political prisoners, the PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy said in a statement.

The dialogue should involve the Belarusian civil society, the statement says.

The members of the Committee believe that Belarusian citizens should be also involved in preparing an upcoming plan of action on Belarus.

European parliamentarians met Belarusian human rights activists on Wednesday, October 2. After the meeting they demanded the Belarusian government free 11 political prisoners immediately and without any preconditions.

Chairman of the Belarusian permanent commission for international affairs Nikolai Samoseiko arrived in Strasbourg to take part in the PACE autumn session.

Belarus had the guest status in Strasbourg in the middle of 1990’s. However, the PACE deprived Belarus of the status due to the claims upon the election system.

In 2009, an attempt was made to get the special guest status. The PACE adopted a resolution to this effect where it included a provision, which obliged the Belarusian authorities to impose a moratorium on death penalty.

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