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COPENHAGEN, 25 March 2021 – Adding her voice to recent calls for negotiations to advance a political and peaceful solution to the crisis in Belarus, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Eastern Europe Dr. Daniela De Ridder (Germany) said today that dialogue between the authorities and opposition in Belarus is essential to promote progress.

De Ridder noted the constructive relationships that she has been developing with both Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and members of the OSCE PA’s Belarusian Delegation including its Head Andrei Savinykh, and reiterated the Parliamentary Assembly’s willingness to support talks.

“More than 700,000 people as of today have voted in favor of negotiations on resolution of the political crisis in the country and this number is growing every day,” De Ridder said. “This is a sign that people demand changes in the country and their voices need to be heard.”

In order to find a way forward from the crisis, she stressed that authorities need to adhere to their international commitments and engage in an inclusive, open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.

“We encourage authorities in Minsk to accept the offer of former and current OSCE Chairpersonship to facilitate an inclusive and genuine dialogue providing a platform for a constructive discussion,” the Special Representative said. “OSCE PA also stands ready to explore ways for the organization to help resolve the crisis in the best interest of the Belarusian people.”

On Monday, OSCE PA President Peter Lord Bowness spoke at a roundtable of leaders and experts focused on the future of Belarus, where he reiterated the full support of the Parliamentary Assembly for the proposal made by the OSCE Albanian Chairpersonship, and reiterated by the Swedish Chairpersonship, to visit Minsk and broker honest and direct dialogue between the authorities and the opposition.