Belarus parliament elections

MINSK, 28 July (BelTA) - The OSCE should refrain from politics and pressure when working with Belarus on improving the election processes, German political scientist Alexander Rahr told BelTA.

He noted that Belarus may benefit from the OSCE recommendations as the organization has significant expertise and ties with hundreds of non-governmental and scientific organizations. “The OSCE is trying to make the most of the experience of the past decades and improve the pan-European democracy. Let them really polish up the legislation and strengthen democratic institutions. But this should be done on a technical level rather than political, i.e. without pressure,” Alexander Rahr believes.

“Belarus can talk with the OSCE openly and straightforwardly about the points that it considers unacceptable,” said Alexander Rahr. “This is a normal dialogue without politics, neighborly and friendly. Some proposals may be accepted, others not. The main thing is to cooperate,” he noted. The political analyst believes that while developing cooperation with the OSCE in part of the improvement of the election processes, there is no need to view the recommendations and the Organization itself “as purely political, which pursues the geopolitical ambitions and objectives.”

The expert believes that the OSCE, in turn, should change the previous political order when Eastern European countries were given a marginal role to play. Even more so now when the Organization faces such an important task as the settlement of the migration crisis.

Following the president elections in 2015, the OSCE/ODIHR mission issued recommendations for Belarus. Some of them have already been taken into account and are being introduced during the current parliamentary campaign.