BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/04/2008

Belarus Wants U.S. Embassy To Reduce Its Staff To Five

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry on April 23 told deputy mission chief Moore that the U.S. Embassy in Minsk should provide it with a list of five diplomats who will stay in Belarus, Belapan reported, quoting a source at the embassy. "Moore expressed a protest against the new demand and noted that this unprecedented and unjustified move by the Belarusian authorities would lead to serious consequences," the source said. Moore assured the ministry that he will promptly inform the U.S. State Department and give a reply in due time. In a statement issued the same day, the Foreign Ministry justified the demand by saying that the United States is still continuing economic sanctions against Belarusian economic entities and preventing a "mutually acceptable settlement of the situation." In late March, Washington yielded to the ministry's "recommendation" to reduce its embassy staff in Minsk to 17 people. Deputy Foreign Minister Viktar Haysyonak said on April 2 that the ministry considers it "expedient" to reduce the staff of the Belarusian Embassy in the United States and the U.S. Embassy in Belarus to seven people. State Department spokesman Casey responded on April 5 that such a demand is unwarranted and unjustified. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/04/3-cee/cee-240408.asp

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