BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
28/03/2008
Some U.S. Embassy Staff Leave Belarus
Seventeen staff members of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk left Belarus on March 27, Belapan reported, citing a source at the embassy. On March 24, the embassy issued a statement that Washington agreed to Minsk's demand to cut staff of the U.S. diplomatic mission (see "RFE/RL Newsline," March 25, 2008). U.S.-Belarusian relations have deteriorated over economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department against Belarus's largest petrochemical company, Belnaftakhim (see "RFE/RL Newsline," March 17, 18, and 19, 2008). In November 2007, the 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 President Alyaksandr 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 "urgently recommended" that the U.S. Embassy reduce its staff. Andrey Papou, spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, on March 20 told reporters that "it is necessary to equalize the levels of diplomatic presence on a parity basis." The Belarusian Embassy in Washington employs around 20 people, while the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, prior to the cut, had around 35 staff members. AM
Source:
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/03/3-cee/cee-280308.asp
Archive
