Munich, 5 June 1997 (RFE/RL/) -- The parliamentary assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has postponed a planned visit to Belarus.
The assembly's Secretary General, Spencer Oliver, said tomorrow's visit was postponed because the planned program focused too much on parliamentary deputies loyal to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka without offering opportunities for meeting opposition politicians.
The OSCE this week released a highly critical report on the situation in Belarus and said it appeared to be heading towards a totalitarian state. The report was drawn up by an OSCE mission which visited Minsk in April and spoke to both members and supporters of the Government and representatives of the political opposition.
Oliver said the Parliamentary assembly remained extremely interested in examining the parliamentary situation in Belarus. He emphasised that the trip had been "postponed" and not cancelled.