Terry Davis, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that conferences on Belarus, similar to one held in Prague on February 23, should be continued.
This conference involving representatives of the Belarusian opposition focused on the situation in the republic prior to the March 19 presidential elections.
He said Belarus was the only European country, which was not a member of the Council of Europe.
In 1996, the Council of Europe suspended Belarus' membership as an observer after elections, which it deemed undemocratic.
Davis said he wanted Belarus to join the Council of Europe, adding that the democratic and human rights situation in the country should be improved.
He said observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had not been invited yet to monitor the upcoming presidential elections.
Davis added that the Belarusian leadership seemed to be afraid of monitoring on the part of European organizations.
