BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

26/12/2007

Russia Slams Belarus Embargo

MOSCOW, Dec 26--Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov criticized US economic sanctions against Belarus on Wednesday, describing them as "politicized" and "unacceptable" pressure, Russian news agencies reported.

The United States last month imposed sanctions on Belneftekhim, Belarus' largest petrochemical company, on grounds that it was under the control of the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko.

"We believe this is a politicized decision. We believe this pressure on Belarus is unacceptable," Zubkov was quoted by Interfax and RIA Novosti as saying at a meeting with Belarussian officials in Moscow.

Zubkov called for the sanctions to be lifted, saying: "We support Belarus."

The sanctions on Belneftekhim ban US citizens from doing business with the company and freeze any of the company's assets under US jurisdiction. Washington already has a visa ban in place on top Belarussian officials.

Belarussian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said at the meeting with Zubkov that the US sanctions were "unacceptable from the point of view of international law," Interfax reported.

Source:

http://www.alalam.ir/english/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=029030120071226210413