Green Senator to observe Belarus elections
Green Party Senator and candidate in the European Elections Deirdre de Burca will take part in an election monitoring mission for the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Belarus, which take place this Sunday 28 September. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was invited to observe the elections by Belarusian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergei Martynov last July.
Senator de Burca, an official Government delegate to the OSCE said: “I am very pleased to be participating in this Election Monitoring Mission, which will observe the parliamentary elections to the Chamber of Representatives. I believe that one of the most important functions of the OSCE is to help countries to make the transition to democracy. As a former Soviet State, Belarus has quite a way to go in terms of becoming a real democracy. Effective parliamentary elections obviously play an important role in that process.”
Senator de Burca concluded: “To be part of an election mission that has a remit of ensuring free and fair elections is a very welcome thing. Belarus should be given every encouragement to democratise itself and in the process to become part of the wider democratic European community.”
