Lukashenka complained Russia about problems caused by US sanctions
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13:43, — Politics
“I’d like to tell you about the problems in our foreign trade, especially in the connection with US government position,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said today at the meeting with head of the Russian Government Viktor Zubkov.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka emphasised the actions by the US authorities in this situation were “gross violation of international agreements.”
“Nevertheless the economic situation in Belarus is normal, our sales turnover is growing dynamically, and it is diversified – it means trade relations with Russia, EU and other countries are in good progress,” he noted.
But statistics refute Lukashenka’s assurances. Joint foreign debt of Belarus amounted to USD 12.719 billion for 1 January, 2008. It has increased by 87.4 per cent (USD 5.932 billion) since 2007.
On 7 March the Belarusian authorities recommended the US Ambassador to leave the country because the US Department of State had imposed sanctions against Belneftekhim concern. The US Department of Treasury published guidance on sanctions imposed against Belneftekhim concern in autumn 2007, and thus extended them to all Belarusian petrochemical enterprises with 50 per cent stake of the state. Before the publication of the guidance, the sanctions affected only representations of the concern and its subsidiaries.
The United States decided to recall its ambassador Karen Stewart for “short consultations” 12 March. Belarus also recalled its envoy Mikhail Khvastou for consultations.
The reason for US sanctions is a refusal of Belarusian regime to release political prisoners. Today former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, young leader Andrei Kim and leader of entrepreneurs Syarhei Parsyukevich stay in prison.
The White House 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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