BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/12/2006

Belarus hopes U.S. will not impose "discriminatory" economic sanctions

MINSK. Dec 11 (Interfax) - The Belarussian authorities hope that the United States will not take any "discriminatory" measures against the country, Belarussian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Popov told journalists on Monday.

"Belarus hopes that, in spite of Congress' approval of the aforementioned bill, common sense will prevail and the U.S. administration will refrain from taking any discriminatory measures in relation to Belarus," he said.

"Unfounded economic sanctions, should they be adopted, will primarily deliver a blow to ordinary citizens, which will have the most negative effect on Washington's image in Belarus," Popov said.

"At the same time, one should keep in mind that it will affect the interests of both Belarus and our U.S. partners in bilateral trade, the volume of which has more than doubled in recent years," the spokesman said.

"What is also striking is that the bill was simply rushed through. In violation of the standard procedure, it was not debated by the relevant committees either of the House of Representatives or the Senate. No debates or votes on the bill were held, ," he said.

"Regrettably, Congress is continuing to pursue its old policy. It is continuing to shamelessly interfere in political processes inside Belarus, openly stating its intention to finance the activities of certain political forces inside our state," Popov said.

"It would not be excessive to remind Congress, particularly its new members, that the laws of the U.S. itself directly ban any foreign financing of political activities on the territory of the U.S.," the spokesman said.

"Furthermore, the document effectively recommends that the U.S. president introduce economic sanctions against the Belarussian people for political motives," he said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/221578/news.aspx