US Ambassador: “Belarusian authorities are demonstrating certain progress, but it’s not enough” :: Charter'97 :: News

U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Karen B. Stewart thinks the Congress of the Democratic Forces of Belarus is a very interesting event. “It was very interesting to me to see representatives of the democratic forces, to hear their discussion and debate about further activities,” told the diplomat in an interview to the BelaPAN. Karen B. Stewart has also added that she is glad that the Belarusian opposition had a chance to hold the Congress of the Democratic Forces at the territory of their own country.

Speaking about contradictions in the democratic coalition, the Ambassador noted that it is a normal situation, and the Congress of the Democratic Forces had been created to discuss, to debate and take decisions.

Karen B. Stewart has underlined that until all political prisoners would be released, one cannot speak about a change in the relations between Belarus and the US, or about annulment of sanctions against Belarus. “The US is very pleased that three political prisoners (Mikola Statkevich, Paval Sevyarynets and Katsyaryna Sadouskaya) have been released, but we expect and call upon release of all political prisoners,” the Ambassador said. As said by K. Stewart, the Belarusian authorities demonstrate a certain progress in fulfillment of the EU and the US conditions, but it is not enough for embarking on a full-fledged dialogue.