EU and US Missions to the OSCE support call for new dialogue

The missions of the European Union and the United States to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) supported the proposal of the leader of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to hold peace talks between the Belarusian authorities and the opposition with international mediation.

The US Mission to the OSCE also called on US partners and allies to support the Belarusian people in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

"The United States is proud to support today’s renewed calls for genuine dialogue between Belarusian authorities and the political opposition, including the Coordination Council and members of Belarusian civil society.  The United States hopes such a dialogue will lead to the negotiations necessary for new, free, and fair elections in Belarus".

"The United States once again thanks the Swedish Chairperson in Office for offering to facilitate a national dialogue between the Belarusian authorities and those leading the call for democracy and human rights,“ says the Mission´s statement.

The EU Mission to the OSCE also supported the voting initiated by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

As Rasa Ostrauskaite, EU Permanent Representative to the OSCE, wrote on her Twitter page, the goal of this dialogue should be to hold fair and independent elections in 2021 with the participation of international observers.