BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/05/2008

Belarus's sabre-rattling over EU sanctions

If the European Union joins the United States in imposing sanctions against Belarus, it might harm Europe's interests, warned the Belarusian President in an interview with Reuters. Aleksandr Lukashenko urged the EU to remember that Belarus is a transit country for oil and gas that goes to Europe.

"The Americans want the Europeans to introduce sanctions against Belarus, which will only hamper Europe," he told Reuters.

"You can if you wish. But don't forget that 50 % of your oil and oil products and 30 % of your gas passes through Belarus," Lukashenko added.

The U.S. and the EU accuse the Belarusian leader of rigging the presidential election in 2006 and have imposed a travel ban on him and other top officials.

The jailing of opposition politician Aleksandr Kozulin has further strained relations with Washington. In March economic sanctions against the Belarusian state oil company "Belneftekhim" were imposed.

In an escalation of the row, Belarus expelled several American diplomats from capital Minsk.

Source:

http://www.russiatoday.ru/features/news/24798

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