American congressman offers Lukashenka to return US Ambassador to Minsk

Member of the US House of Representatives Dana Rohrabacher suggested enhancing diplomatic ties with Belarus at a meeting with Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

The statement was made in Minsk in August 3, official information agency BelTA reports.

The US congressman said that the United States wanted to promote peace and cooperation in the region and between states all over the world. He hopes that these peaceful efforts will begin today and will be developed.

In his opinion, the enhancement of diplomatic ties and the return of the US Ambassador to Minsk and the Belarus Ambassador to Washington can be the first step in this direction.

Dana Rohrabacher noted that this is the first visit of US congressmen to Belarus for many years. This period lasted for too long. Belarus and the United States should have exchanged visits more often. The congressman expressed hope that this visit will open up new opportunities for the bilateral relations.

Dana Rohrabacher said that the picture he saw in Belarus illustrates the efforts of the country to improve the wellbeing of people. He expressed hope that Belarus can be proud of many things and that there are many avenues for cooperation.

The US diplomatic staff in Minsk was reduced from 35 to 5 in March 2008 at the insistence of Belarus due to the sanctions imposed by the US on Belneftekhim concern over human rights violations. Belarus's Ambassador to the US Mikhail Khvastou (Khvostov) was recalled from Washington for consultations. Ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk at the insistence of Belarus. Belarus allowed the US to increase its diplomatic staff from five to six persons in 2014.