USA Set Priorities of Foreign Policy :: Charter'97 :: News

The priorities of foreign policy of Bush administration in Europe have become a topic of a speech delivered by Elizabeth Jones, US Assistant Secretary of State, in the Subcommittee of US Congress on Ties with Europe on March 3. In her speech Elizabeth Jones, head of the US State Department for Europe and Eurasia, threw light upon such questions as NATO and EU relations, US attitude towards Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

As for Belarus, the following was said:

Belarus is holding parliamentary elections in October. Over the last several months, the Government of Belarus has intensified its repression of civil society, resulting in the closure of more than 50 NGOs and numerous independent media outlets. We continue to press the government in bilateral meetings and through multilateral organizations to uphold its international commitments to democracy and human rights. The United States and the EU work closely on policy towards Belarus and plan to co-sponsor a resolution at the upcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

The United States is funding a variety of programs to advance democracy and human rights in Belarus. We agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments in the Belarus Democracy Act of 2003 as incorporated in the House version of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. We will continue to work with the EU to press for democracy and human rights in Belarus, but we oppose legislated sanctions. The Secretary needs flexibility to implement the Administration`s foreign policy, and we restrict backsliding and undemocratic practices by judicious use of assistance funds.