23 June 2007
Special rapporteur on Belarus at Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly to visit Minsk in October
Mario Andrea Rigoni, special rapporteur on Belarus at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), will visit Minsk in October, the press office of the Council of Europe told BelaPAN.
On June 21, Mr. Rigoni met in Rome with Syarhey Haydukevich, the Belarusian foreign minister's special representative for relations with European parliamentary organizations.
According to the press office, Mr. Rigoni reiterated his concern about the existence of political prisoners in Belarus. Mr. Haydukevich argued that there are no political prisoners in Belarus, but there are criminals who call themselves political prisoners. Mr. Rigoni asked for the lawmaker's assistance in arranging meetings with these people during this forthcoming visit.
Mr. Haydukevich reportedly noted that the Belarusian government is ready to cooperate with the European Union. Mr. Rigoni stressed that Europe does not expect Belarus to become a democratic country overnight, but the government could start with reforming its Criminal Code and legislative system.
In an interview with BelaPAN, Mr. Haydukevich, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, described his meeting with Mr. Rigoni and talks at the Italian foreign ministry as "very fruitful, positive and useful."
"I'm sure that the content of my conversation with the foreign ministry's representatives would be reported to their leadership," he said.
According to Mr. Haydukevich, he will have a meeting with PACE President Rene van der Linden in Strasbourg on June 23.
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