Jonathan Moore: There’s yet no formal decision on shutting embassy in Minsk

US Charge d’Affaires Jonathan Moore said to the Charter’97 press center that there’s no formal decision on shutting the embassy in Minsk.

According to the diplomat, Washington is continuing to consider the situation about the American diplomats in Belarus.

The Associated Press reported 1 May the US Department of State had ordered Belarus to close its embassy in Washington and consulate in New York. According to the Associated Press, the Department of State may close its embassy in Minsk as early as Friday, 2 May.

But the same day Radio Svaboda, referring to the Associated Press, reported that the US had abruptly backed down on its decision to close American embassy in Minsk. Instead of it, Tom Casey, the Department of State’s official, said the Belarusian diplomats had been warned against possible steps.

“There certainly are a number of steps, and we have told them that we are considering the full range of options in terms of our respective diplomatic presences," Casey said.

However, the Department of State’s official didn’t say what measures can be taken against the Belarusian authorities.

The Belarus-US relations have tightened after the US Treasury Department published on its site clarification of the sanctions, imposed against Belneftekhim company in November 2007. Belarusian ambassador to the US Mikhail Khvastou was recalled from Washington for consultations on 7 March. US ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk on 12 March on the insistence of the Belarusian side. The US was recommended to reduce its embassy staff. On 27 March 17 US diplomats left Minsk.

On 31 March Belarus decided to reduce its embassy staff in Washington and suggested the US to do the same. On 23 April the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered that till 30 April the US embassy should give a list of 5 American diplomats who will remain to work in Belarus.

On 30 April US Charge d’Affaires Jonathan Moore was handed a list of American diplomats who are considered persona non grata in Belarus and should leave the county within 72 hours.

The US Department of State’s spokesman Sean McCormack said on a briefing, commenting on this decision by the official Minsk, the United States would reduce its embassy staff as the Belarusian side insisted, though they found this decision to be “unjustified and unwarranted.”

According to him, the US is not going to reject its principles: “We want to have a good relationship with Belarus and work to try to improve that. But we are not going to do that and sacrifice principles of pushing for freedom of expression, political freedoms and other freedoms in Belarus.” “We are considering our response to this action,” S. McCormack declared.