A Dutch parliamentarian has offered to discuss recognition of Belarusian democrats as legal representatives of Belarus.

Pieter Omtzigt has addressed the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe with a demand to recognize the Belarusian opposition as legal representatives of the Belarusian people.

“The situation in Belarus is deeply worrying. That is why today I tabled these questions to the Committee of Ministers in the Council of Europe. They will be published there shortly and I hope to get the answer of the Committee of Ministers, which consists of the 47 ministers of foreign affairs,” told to charter97.org the Member of Parliament for the Dutch Christian Democratic Party, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“The presidential elections in Belarus on December 19th 2010 were unfair and many irregularities took place according to the OSCE-observer mission,” the politician noted.

The MP has asked the Committee of Ministers the following questions:

— Does the Committee of Ministers agree that the imprisoned candidates are political prisoners or does it trust the impartiality of the Belarus judicial system?

— Will the Committee of Ministers discuss and implement a visa ban on Belarus officials as long as presidential candidates are in prison?

— Will the Committee of Ministers release an official statement with its view and disapproval of the current political situation in Belarus?

— Will the Council of Europe now formally make ties with the opposition as legitimate representatives of the Belarus people?

— Can the Committee of Ministers answer these questions before the opening of the first session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 2011?