Belarusian Democrats Received In US Department of State and US Congress :: Charter'97 :: News

The leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka and a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Alyaksei Yanukevich stay on a visit to Washington. On May 18 Belarusian politicians had a meeting with US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs Daniel Fried and David Kramer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

“The recent election campaign in Belarus was discussed,” Anatol Lyabedzka said. “Washington has clear position on that question. The events in Belarus outside Constitution framework and OSCE standards cannot be recognized as legitimate. Secondly, Washington makes it understand that Belarus needs new elections, and that the relations of official Washington and Minsk depend on that”.

During the visit to Washington the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka and deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Alyaksei Yanukevich visited US Congress. Representaties of the Belarusian opposition met a Congressman John Shimkus, who had addressed the US Congress concerning situation in Belarus many times.

“Once Mr. Shimkus have done a lot for Baltic states,” Anatol Lyabedzka said. “And now he uses his potential and his possibilities in the Congress to Belarus. Our country is one of the priorities for him”.

On May 18 Anatol Lyabedzka and Alyaksei Yanukevich met a Helsinki group of the US Congress.

Besides, they had a meeting with national security and European region advisors in the office of the US Vice President Dick Cheney.

On May 17 a meeting of Belarusian politicians with Australian Prime Minister John Howard took place in Washington. “It was a very warm meeting”, Anatol Lyabedzka said. “This country and its prime minister’s influence in the world community are great. Mr Howard said that situation in Belarus is to become a concern of Australia as well. We have opened Belarus for one more country”.