BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/12/2007

Belarus' envoy slams U.S. sanctions on his country

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Belarus' Ambassador to the United States Mikhail Khvostov said Monday Washington was violating an agreement it signed in 1994 by maintaining sanctions against his country.

Speaking at a news conference, Khvostov said the United States agreed not to take economic action against Belarus under a "memorandum of security assurances" signed by the two countries after Belarus agreed to be a non-nuclear state under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"It shows that at any time the Bush administration can roll back the U.S. security assurances given to a legally binding instrument," the ambassador said.

The United States imposed targeted financial sanctions in June 2006 on Belarusan President Alexander Lukashenko and nine other top officials of his government in response to what Washington called a fraudulent presidential election in March 2006.

Washington tightened restrictions on U.S. travel by Belarusian officials after the U.S. State Department said in last August the country had not improved its human rights record and taken steps toward democracy.

It was reported that the U.S. government is considering new sanctions against Belarus because of its refusal to free political prisoners and allow democratic freedoms.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/18/content_7269388.htm

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