STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

On the Report of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus

Delivered by Ms. Velia M. De Pirro
Alternate Representative, Human Rights Council
Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Thank you, Mr. President.

The United States welcomes this opportunity to engage with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of human rights in Belarus. My delegation commends the Special Rapporteur for his forthright and in-depth analysis of the human rights situation of the people of Belarus. We are particularly struck by the complete, accurate and insightful conclusions in Mr. Severin's report. We regret the obstructionist tactics employed by the Lukashenko regime and its lack of cooperation with the work of the Special Rapporteur.

We are encouraged that the Special Rapporteur provided a thoughtful and comprehensive accounting of the situation, and we encourage him to continue his excellent work in bringing attention to the abuses suffered by the Belarusian people.

Unfortunately, in the course of 2006, the situation has continued to deteriorate as noted by Mr. Severin in his report

Mr. President, the United States believes that the international community has an important role to play in supporting the work of the Special Rapporteur and those groups and individuals who are struggling to keep human rights and fundamental freedoms alive in Belarus and who are building a civil society in the face of massive repression.

We have the following question for Mr. Severin. How can the international community best support the population of Belarus?

Thank you, Mr. President