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Belarus sticks to its human rights commitments and confirms its readiness to interact with UN member states, the human rights system and its mechanisms on the principles of respect for sovereignty, impartiality and universality, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN Office in Geneva Larisa Belskaya said at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council that discussed the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Belarus, BelTA has learned.
“The so-called ‘group of experts’ of OHCHR [the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights] that disseminates disinformation about the 2020 presidential election in Belarus and the subsequent situation in its biased reports is an instrument of pressure and it does not adhere to its principles. Belarus does not recognize such mandates. The sources of anonymous ‘first-hand interviews’ cited by the report are likely to be ‘activists’ who fled the country after failing to undermine the Belarusian state through an attempted color revolution and through participation in illegal anti-government actions and clashes with law enforcement. Now they are making extremist calls and announcing plans from abroad to overthrow the legitimate government, and are ready to do it even through an armed conflict in Belarus,” the Belarusian diplomat said.
Larisa Belskaya noted that “these personalities” do not represent Belarus or its people, neither de facto, nor de jure. Attempts by Western governments to portray them as ‘leaders’ of democratic forces represent a malicious distortion of the principles of international law and the UN Charter. Such a distortion seeks to legitimize activities against the sovereign Belarusian state and to validate interference in its internal affairs.
“Puppet structures, fully financed by Western taxpayers, are doing whatever it takes to secure their funding and the status of supposedly ‘political opponents’ of the Belarusian authorities. This ranges from disinformation to calls for expanding Western sanctions against Belarus. The report, based on such sources, deliberately distorts the real situation in the country and ignores any alternative points of view,” the permanent representative of Belarus emphasized.
She noted that the legitimate actions of law enforcement agencies to contain riots prepared in advance and financed from abroad, to detain their initiators and active participants, as well as fair sentences handed down by Belarusian courts to perpetrators, are groundlessly misrepresented as oppression. At the same time, similar actions of law enforcement in Western countries are presented as attempts to protect order and democracy. “What is this if not hypocrisy?!” the diplomat asked.
According to Larisa Belskaya, the absurdity of accusing the Belarusian authorities of possible “crimes against humanity” and the policy of double standards of Western countries are especially apparent against the backdrop of their hypocritical and cynical assessments of armed conflicts supported by the West.
“There are no political prisoners in Belarus. Persons serving sentences are convicted of specific crimes, including crimes against national security. In Belarus, all wrongdoers are treated equally, including those who are favored by foreign politicians or act in their interests,” she emphasized.
According to Larisa Belskaya, it is very telling that for the authors of the report and Western delegations to the Human Rights Council, the key criterion for assessing the independence and democracy of Belarusian political parties, trade unions, NGOs or mass media is whether or not they have an anti-government position and carry out anti-government activities. “Everyone else is dismissed as dependent and non-democratic. And this is an almost four-million-strong trade union movement, patriotic political parties, hundreds of NGOs constructively interacting with the government in all areas of public life,” the diplomat noted.
She emphasized that the report is an example of how the HRC mechanisms are used to help a number of Western countries instrumentalize human rights in order to destabilize countries, to encourage actions against legitimate governments and to distort information about such actions. “Under the slogan of the universality of human rights, a strategy is being implemented to change government systems chosen by the people or to weaken governments that follow their own path of development instead of doing the West’s bidding. This strategy stems from disrespect for sovereign states and disregard for the price that developing nations pay for Western experiments to instigate color revolutions and to impose the so-called “rules-based order,” said the permanent representative of Belarus.
In conclusion, Larisa Belskaya emphasized: “The real situation in Belarus is a far cry from the false picture painted by the report. The country is developing successfully despite large-scale Western sanctions.” Thus, in the atmosphere of a national dialogue, with the support of the overwhelming majority of citizens, constitutional reform has been implemented, the political system is being updated, all branches of power are being reformed, parliamentary and local elections have been held, and civil society is actively developing.
“The key goals of Belarus’ government policy that will remain unchanged are to improve the well-being of people, protect the interests of the Belarusian state and the rights of Belarusian citizens, including the right to independent, evolutionary and peaceful development,” the Belarusian diplomat concluded.
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club,
dthank you for your comment! We'll send you some of our souvenirs ASAP.
Stay tuned and 73,
RBI
Hallo Radio Belarus,
ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.
Dietmar
Answer:
Lieber Dietmar,
das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!
I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
Sheryl Paszkiewicz, 1015 Green St, Manitowoc WI 54220 USA
Answer:
Dear Sheryl, thank you very much for listening to us! We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. By the way, if you're interested, you can participate in our "The Old Country's Loving Call" project and send a greeting to Belarus. You can find more detailed information at http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/hukaje_eng
Also, in case you like sports, here's the link to an international competition of ours "My Greetings to 2nd European Games" http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/games_eng
73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)
Hello from Birmingham United Kingdom!
My name is Michael.
I really enjoyed listening to your program on the Hotbird satellite 13e. I very much love listening to your news and current affairs.
Ask you to send me a small gifts. I hope you guys are all good.
Lots of love from UK
Especially enjoying learning about Belarus. History and culture
Michael Rogers
Flat 2 463 City road Birmingham
B17 8LG
United Kingdom
Answer:
Michael,
thank you very much for listening to us! We're glad that you enjoy our programs. We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. Best regards and stay tuned!
Hello. I am a new listener to your English service. I listen on the Radio 1 News app. I enjoyed listening to the news. Do you have any information on shortwave broadcasts you can send me?
Thank you,
Joe Cosimo
23 Ivy Ln, Dupont, PA 18641 U.S.A.
Answer:
Dear Joe, thank you for listening to Radio Belarus International! We're glad that you enjoyed our news. RBI broadcasts on shortwave only in German on 6005 and 3985 kHz. News and programs in English are available via our website and satellites. We'll also send you a postcard and a small souvenir as soon as we can. 73!
Hello,
My name is Younes Lazazi, I am from Algeria.
I am very happy that radio Belarus has started broadcasting in Arabic.
I would like to receive stickers and printed matter of the station and the Arabic and french services if possible.
My address:
Monsieur Younes Lazazi 14 rue Maza Boualem El-Harrach 16009 Alger Algérie
Thank you.
Answer:
Dear Younes Lazazi,
we're happy that you like our boradcasts. We'll send you some of our printed materials via mail in the nearest future. 73!
Dear English Service Radio Belarus,
Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus. We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented. We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.
Please send some program schedule, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
We are waiting for your reply.
With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
President
Metali Listeners' Club
India
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul,
thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!
Hello!
Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!
Answer:
Hello! The Arabic programmes have been on air since October, every Monday. You can see the schedule and listen to them on our Arabic page http://radiobelarus.by/ar
FM transmitters and frequencies:
Rakitnitsa - 106.2 MHz
Hrodna - 95.7 MHz
Svislach - 104.4 MHz
Heraniony - 99.9 MHz
Braslau - 106.6 MHz
Miadzel - 102.0 MHz
Satellite broadcasting:
see satellite parameters here
