Directorate head confident of Belarus' accession to Council of Europe

Belarus is destined to join the Council of Europe, Alexandre Guessel, head of the Directorate of Political Advice in the Council of Europe Secretariat, told a group of Belarusian reporters in Strasbourg on Monday.

He acknowledged that there was little contact between the Council of Europe and Belarus at present but stressed that the country's accession to the organization was just a matter of time.

Mr. Guessel said that the Belarusian legislature could have its Special Guest status in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly restored at any moment provided both sides wanted that.

According to Mr. Guessel, Belarus may be discouraged from joining the Council of Europe after studying the experience of Russia, a member of the organization that has been hit by some unfavorable rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. He referred to the court's recent ruling that requires Russia to pay €1.87 billion in compensation to the owners of now defunct oil company Yukos.

At the same time, he said, none of the 47 member states has quit the organization so far, although countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia are on the receiving end of severe criticism.

Belarus has already signed some of the conventions of the Council of Europe, said Mr. Guessel.