Belarusian Foreign Ministry tried to talk to US by ultimatums
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12:19, — Politics
The future of the Belarusian-American dialogue depends on complete lifting of economic sanctions against Belarus. It has been stated today by the press-secretary of Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Papou at the briefing in Minsk.
“We are not the source of this situation and the tensions in the bilateral relations. It is natural that the future of Belarusian-American dialogue depends on total lifting of sanctions against Belarusian economic entities,” he underlined.
As we have informed, on March 7 Belarusian authorities recommended the US Ambassador to leave Belarus in connection with the US Department of State sanctions imposed against Belneftekhim. On March 7, 2008 the US Treasury published guidance on sanctions imposed against Belneftekhim in autumn 2007.
On March 12 the US decided to recall Ambassador Karen Stewart from Belarus “for short consultations”. Belarus recalled its ambassador Mikhail Khvastou to Minsk as well.
The reason for US sanctions is a refusal of Belarusian regime to release political prisoners. Today a former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, a young leader Andrei Kim and a leader of small businessmen Syarhei Parsyukevich stay in prison.
The White House has called the decision of the Belarusian regime to expel the US Ambassador to Belarus ungrounded and stated that it could cause further isolation of the country worldwide. It is said in the statement that the actions of Minsk bring Belarus even further from Europe and the rest of the world.
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