USA Ambassador Can Be Deported From Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

The declaration of US Ambassador Michael Kozak evoked a highly negative reaction of Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his declaration Kozak reportedly compares the present day actions of the USA in Belarus to the situation in Nicaragua, as Mikhail Khvostov, the deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs told answering questions of reporters of BelTA agency, “Interfax” and NTV channel.

The head of the Foreign office said that “In his publication the USA Ambassador revealed nothing new for the Belarusian authorities. The State Department still uses the same methods in Belarus. Firstly, the direct political pressure and bribing of less important officials to create nervousness in society. Secondly, denial of issuing visas for state officials. Thirdly, demonstration of military force, and the recent maneuvers in Lithuania provide evidence for this. Fourthly, underground opposition support by providing through non-governmental organizations various equipment, computers and copiers for leaflets, digests and newspapers issuing.”

As maintained by Mikhail Khvostov, Kozak’s statements in British press are nothing but a “direct intervention in Belarus’ internal affairs, and we decisively repudiate such policy of Michael Kozak”. The head of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs notified journalists that he is going to invite the American Ambassador to learn from him if he had really said the words published in British newspapers. This information directly from the source, according to Khvostov, “will form the ground of evaluation of Kozak’s activities in Belarus”.

The head of the Foreign Affairs Ministry declared that he is not intended to jump into conclusions and make haste with American Ambassador’s deportation in connection with his statements. He emphasized, that he “is one hundred per cent certain of one thing, that the American people know nothing about the policy implemented by the US government and Ambassador Kozak in Belarus”.