BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
19/03/2008
Belarusian President Slams U.S. Over Sanctions
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on March 18 that the United States is stirring up tensions with regard to Belarus by its economic sanctions against the country's largest petrochemical company, Belnaftakhim, Belapan reported. "In violation of its commitments under a December 1994 memorandum on security guarantees in connection with Belarus's accession to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the U.S. introduced and then expanded sanctions against the enterprises of Belnaftakhim, thereby revealing its cynical attitude toward international law," Lukashenka said. He also said that the United States violated its commitment not to apply measures of economic compulsion in exchange for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Belarus. "We did that and signed that memorandum," Lukashenka said. "The U.S., Russia, and other states then pledged that owing to this humane act, they would treat our country accordingly, support it by every possible means and in no way apply any measures [against Belarus] in the economic and other spheres. Little time has passed and what do we see in reality? And what has Belnaftakhim to do with it? What has democratization to do with it?" However, Lukashenka admitted that the sanctions are not fatal to Belarus. "We lived before, live now under their so-called sanctions, and will continue to live," he added. In November 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department froze all assets under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to Belnaftakhim and its representatives, and barred Americans from doing business with the company, which it says is controlled by Lukashenka. On March 7, Minsk recalled its ambassador to the United States, Mikhail Khvastou, for consultations and urged U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart to temporarily leave Belarus, which she did on March 12. On March 17, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry also "recommended" the U.S. Embassy cut its staff. AM
Source:
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/03/3-cee/cee-190308.asp
Archive
