BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/12/2007

U.S. Envoy Works To Nurture Civil Society in Belarus

By Jane Morse
USINFO Staff Writer

"Personal touch" wins Ambassador Stewart first Diplomacy for Freedom Award

Washington -- Personal presence and the personal touch can be extremely powerful tools in nurturing democracy and civil society, as Karen Stewart, the U.S. ambassador to Belarus, has demonstrated.

Her skills in supporting democratic activists laboring under the repressive regime of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has won Stewart recognition from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who bestowed on her the first Diplomacy for Freedom Award on December 10 in a special ceremony at the Department of State.

The award, which will be given annually, honors U.S. diplomats for outstanding efforts to advance human dignity, end tyranny and promote democracy. The award is part of President Bush’s Freedom Agenda aimed at advancing freedom and democracy around the world." (See related fact sheet.)

Democratic activists routinely have been harassed, jailed or have mysteriously “disappeared” since Lukashenko rose to power in 1994 and systematically dismantled the country’s democratic institutions.

Nonetheless, democratic activists stage public rallies, and when they do, Stewart and her team are out on the streets and demonstration routes to observe and issue public statements of support." This personal presence and vocal support not only energizes Belarusian civil society and opposition groups, but also exerts pressure on the authorities not to use coercive measures to disperse the crowds.

Likewise, either the ambassador or her deputy chief of mission attends the opening and closing trial sessions of every leading political activist arrested for exercising the right to free speech and assembly. "And, the ambassador has provided a platform to form “common ground” for democratic opposition groups struggling to resolve internal leadership and policy questions."

Stewart has made high-profile visits throughout Belarus to highlight U.S. humanitarian assistance and support for the people of the country." As a more personal sign of support, she has hosted periodic receptions and small events to offer moral support and show solidarity with the families of political prisoners and those recently released from incarceration for political activity.

Stewart and her team at the embassy have worked to develop additional U.S. sanctions on Belarus and expand the visa ban on Belarusian public officials who support the Lukashenko regime.

The United States pursues "selective engagement" with the Lukashenko regime, which dissolved the country’s legitimate parliament and repressed human rights throughout the country." Government-to-government contacts have been downgraded. "U.S. assistance goes to humanitarian causes and supports democratic political forces, civil society, exchanges, education and independent media, including external broadcasting to promote democratic change.

A member of the U.S. Foreign Service since 1977, Stewart began her duties as U.S. ambassador in Belarus in September 2006." She has served in Bangkok and Udorn in Thailand; Islamabad, Pakistan; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and twice in Vientiane, Laos.

A native of Florida, Stewart graduated from Wellesley College as a Phi Beta Kappa and a Durant Scholar and received a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National War College of the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington.

(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Source:

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=December&x=20071210164747ajesroM0.8648188