Photo: MFA/BelTA
Another launch of the Moscow Mechanism against Belarus is nothing but a political circus organized by Western countries in a bid to get 15 minutes of cheap fame. Belarus’ representative made the relevant statement at a session of the OSCE Permanent Council held in Vienna on 23 March to discuss the Moscow Mechanism, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.
Belarus’ representative noted: “With sadness we observe how respected delegations of Western countries stubbornly use the so-called Moscow Mechanism against Belarus once again. Naturally, while treating all those present in this chamber with unwavering respect, we don’t expect that delegations of the countries that have initiated yet another political show focusing on Belarus seriously expect a result different from those produced by all the previous investigations. Fifteen minutes of cheap fame for those willing to declare their righteous political stance before the entire world will be the only outcome.”
“At the same time, this process has zero results from the point of view of sensible communication, which is the only thing able to give a constructive answer to our alarms and concerns,” Belarus’ representative stated.
The statement also says that by using an obviously outdated tool from another historical age, the initiators of yet another “judgment of Belarus by the progressive community” bet on continuing the tactics of racking up pressure on Belarus across the board – through sanctions, isolation, and intimidation.
“Respected colleagues! If you think you can provoke a sincere conversation about burning problems out of your opponent by waving sanctions as a club, you are simply deceive yourselves. For many centuries external forces have been constantly trying to choke the Belarusian nation, subdue it to their will, force it to live according to someone else’s perceptions of what is right and what is wrong. It didn’t work out back then and it will fail today, too,” Belarus’ representative stressed.
In the speech the representative noted that Belarusian authorities can and are ready to discuss questions and wishes of individual countries but under one condition: in the format of equal and respectful interstate dialogue. Without high-handed claims and ultimatums, with understanding of the entire complexity of the world and the diversity of civilizational ways towards happiness and prosperity.
The OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism is the OSCE’s approach to work in the human dimension upon the initiative of member states. It includes the organization of missions of experts or rapporteurs with a view to examining the state of affairs in the human dimension in a specific country. The mechanism was introduced by the OSCE’s Moscow document in elaboration of the Vienna Mechanism, which provided for bilateral meetings and the sharing of information about human dimension matters. The Moscow Mechanism has been used against Belarus twice already: upon the initiative of 14 OSCE members in 2011 and upon the initiative of 17 OSCE members in 2020. In both cases the Belarusian government refuted accusations and did not participate in the realization of the mechanism. The Belarusian government called it a rusted tool of a past age.
“Consensus is central to the OSCE while the Moscow Mechanism is not based on consensus. It is susceptible to momentary, politicized, and biased influences and manipulation,” Belarus’ permanent representative to the OSCE made the statement at a session of the OSCE Permanent Council in 2011.
A similar situation happened in 2020, too. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei stated back then that the Belarusian government did not intend to participate in the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism. He said: “We dealt with a situation like that in 2011. I think we can deal with this situation now as well. The mechanism provides for setting up some expert group and for sending it to Belarus for the sake of studying the situation in the area of human rights. The Belarusian government has no intention of participating in the implementation of this mechanism.” Vladimir Makei also stressed that Belarus is dead against such approaches.
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
