BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/06/2007

Bush renews sanctions on Belarus officials

AFP

US President George W. Bush on Thursday renewed for one year sanctions against hardline Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and other individuals in the former Soviet republic.

Bush, who announced the extension in a memorandum to US Congress, said he had frozen the US assets of Lukashenko and nine other individuals deemed obstacles to democracy in Belarus.

"The actions and policies of certain members of the government of Belarus and other persons pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," Bush said.

"These actions include undermining democratic processes or institutions; committing human rights abuses related to political repression, including detentions and disappearances; and engaging in public corruption, including by diverting or misusing Belarussian public assets or by misusing public authority," he said.

The move came after Bush, in a June 5 speech in Prague, had called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of dissidents in countries including Belarus.

Source:

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Bush_renews_sanctions_on_Belarus_of_06142007.html