Kent Harstedt (right) meets with Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, 30 August 2016.COPENHAGEN, 31 August 2016 – OSCE PA Vice-President Kent Harstedt (MP, Sweden), who is serving as Special Co-ordinator to lead the OSCE’s short-term observer mission for the 11 September parliamentary elections in Belarus, continued his pre-electoral work this week by meeting with President Alexander Lukashenko, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei.

In the discussions, Harstedt encouraged greater public space and more initiatives for pluralism and democracy, while the Belarusian side expressed readiness to discuss any topical issues with the OSCE.

Meeting with President Lukashenko Tuesday, Harstedt stressed his view that the upcoming elections are an opportunity to further Belarus’s development. “These elections should not be viewed through the prism of geopolitics but rather as a chance for increasing openness and dialogue in the country,” Harstedt said. “I hope the elections, along with efforts at reform and democratization, ultimately contribute to building a strong and independent Belarus.”

Lukashenko welcomed the observation mission and expressed his desire for a representative and professional parliament being elected. Also participating in the meeting was Tana De Zulueta, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission.

This week’s visit to Minsk followed up on a pre-electoral visit earlier this month, in which Harstedt met with Lidia Yermoshina, Chairperson of the CEC; Vladimir Andreichenko, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Viktor Guminsky, Head of the Belarusian Delegation to the OSCE PA; Evgeny Shestakov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; representatives of political parties, NGOs and civil society; long-term observers from the OSCE/ODIHR; and local electoral administration officials.