BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/05/2008

EU Calls On Belarus To Normalize Relations With Washington As U.S. Links Sanctions To Political Prisoners

Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating EU Presidency, on May 6 issued a statement expressing its regret over Minsk's recent move to declare 10 U.S. diplomats persona non grata (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 5, 2008), the EU Presidency's website (http://www.eu2008.si) reported. "Such a measure is unjustified and harmful to the interests of the people of Belarus," the statement reads. "The presidency would like to express its solidarity with the United States and its diplomatic service. It calls on the government of Belarus to reconsider its decision and to take immediate steps allowing for a normalization of the relationship between Belarus and the United States on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation." JM

David Merkel, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, has said that if the Belarusian authorities make positive steps on human rights, in particular allowing peaceful demonstrations, and release former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin and two other recently imprisoned opponents, Washington will "talk to them" about lifting sanctions against the Belarusian State Petrochemical Industry Concern (Belnaftakhim), Belapan reported on May 6. Merkel said the Belarusian government is seeking the abolition of the U.S. sanctions as a condition for a return to normal operations at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, where only four U.S. diplomats are now working. But Merkel stressed that "these are separate issues; the sanctions are tied to human rights and political prisoners." In November 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that any assets that belong to Belnaftakhim in the United States should be frozen. The resulting sanctions also barred U.S. citizens from doing business with Belnaftakhim and its subsidiaries. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/05/3-cee/cee-070508.asp

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