Estonia to raise situation in Belarus at UN Security Council
Estonia plans to raise the issue of Belarus at the UN Security Council, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) said: "Due to the political crisis in Belarus and the potential threat to international peace and security, Estonia will propose an immediate discussion on the situation in Belarus at the UN Security Council."
One of the tasks of the Security Council is to help prevent conflicts and stop them from escalating. One of the main objectives of Estonia as an elected member of the Security Council is to ensure compliance with international law, and keep grave violations of human rights in international focus.
Reinsalu said it is crucial for the authorities of Belarus to stop the violence against peaceful protesters, release political prisoners and hold a dialogue with citizens with the aim of holding free and fair elections.
"Estonia remains committed to the people of Belarus," He wrote on Twitter on Monday.
The voice of Belarusians deserves to be heard. Dialogue between Belarusian authorities and opposition is needed ASAP.
— Urmas Reinsalu (@UrmasReinsalu) August 17, 2020
Estonia remains committed to the people of #Belarus.https://t.co/KhuWQMo32l
President Kersti Kaljulaid also said Estonia would raise the topic with the UNSC.
"Estonia is working as an elected member of the UN Security Council to ensure that the situation in Belarus is discussed in the Security Council as soon as possible," Kaljulaid said in a press release.
"Estonia has also proposed to discuss the issue in the UN Human Rights Council in order to once again call for an end to the violence of peace authorities against peaceful protesters and to release those detained without a reason."
Kaljulaid discusses situation with Baltic and Polish presidents
On Monday, Kaljulaid discussed Belarus with the Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish presidents and how to keep the topic in the international spotlight and on the agenda of international organizations.
"We all want Belarus to be stable, democratic, independent and prosperous and we'll keep raising awareness in support of the Belorussians wish for free and democratic elections," Kaljulaid wrote in Twitter.
In a video meeting with the President of Latvia Egils Levits, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda and the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, it was discussed what the position of the countries could be, which should also be brought to the table in international organizations.
Talked with my colleagues @valstsgriba, @GitanasNauseda and @AndrzejDuda of the situation in #Belarus. We all want #Belarus to be stable, democratic, independent and prosperous and we'll keep raising awareness in support of the #Belorussians wish for free and democratic elections pic.twitter.com/NnaUNFhDiH
— Kersti Kaljulaid (@KerstiKaljulaid) August 17, 2020
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Editor: Helen Wright