BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/12/2007

Belarus warns to boot out US ambassador and boycott dollar

To any possible US-backed economic actions against Belarus there will be an opposite reaction, President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters on Sunday.

He went on clarifying 'retaliatory actions' as 'Belarus may expel the U.S. ambassador and refuse US dollars in trade.

'We didn't do anything deserving sanctions. I warn the Americans of our rough reaction. By doing so, they will lose their interests not only in Belarus but . . . Well, if they don't like us, then we will move to euro from dollar. We can stop using dollar. They felt dissatisfied with our work with Venezuela. Why don't they let us work in the USA? We work where we are invited,' he added.

He also threatened US ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart with expulsion.

'She will be the first to go out. She stirs up and says economic sanctions could be put against Belarus. Let her mind her business. Otherwise, she will go premature,' President added.

The United States, which declared ex-Soviet Belarus 'the last dictatorship in Europe', has cornered Belarus with a set of penalizing measures and put a ban on Lukashenko's visiting the United States. Last year, the European Union also slapped travel sanctions on Lukashenko.

Source:

http://www.xabar.info/news.php?id=349

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