“For the first time, Belarus has its own voice in the Council of Europe. It is here and now that we begin our journey toward Belarus's accession to the Council of Europe. It will take a lot of time. To achieve full membership, we need to restore democracy in Belarus, abolish the death penalty, and undertake legislative reforms.
Membership in the Council of Europe will give Belarusians access to international legal mechanisms. Belarusians will be able to protect their rights in the European Court of Human Rights, benefit from the knowledge of European experts, and draw upon the experience of the Venice Commission.
As a result of the summit, a document was adopted that will define the Council of Europe's strategy for the years ahead. It mentions Belarus, as well as our cooperation within the Contact Group.”
