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Belarusian foreign ministry denounces Washington`s measures against Minsk

The Belarusian foreign ministry has denounced as ungrounded and illegitimate the January 31 decision of the United States to introduce measures in response to the post-election situation in Belarus.

“The decision brings back the tension and mistrust factor to the bilateral relations,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. “Washington’s decision is clearly in breach of the USA’s obligation not to use measures of economic pressure against Belarus, which is stipulated in the effective 1994 Budapest memorandum.”

The measures “have no prospects,” the ministry said. “We reserve the right to proportionate reconciliatory measures. The Belarusian side reiterates its principled interest in constructive relations with the USA in line with the interests of both the Republic of Belarus and the United States.”

Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said in a statement on Monday that the United States was undertaking the following steps in response to the brutal post-election crackdown by the Belarusian government on opponents:

--revoking the general license that had temporarily authorized US persons to engage in otherwise prohibited transactions with AAT Lakafarba, a paint and varnish company in Lida, and AAT Polatsk-Shklovalakno, a glass fiber manufacturer in Polatsk.

--significantly expanding the list of Belarusian officials subject to travel restrictions to prevent the entry into the United States of “individuals (and their family members) who are responsible for actions or policies related to the crackdown that began December 19”;

--imposing financial sanctions against additional Belarusian individuals, with the criteria for inclusion on these lists being “participation in actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions, or responsibility for human rights abuses related to political repression.”

“The United States continues to seek the immediate release of all detainees and the dropping of all charges associated with the crackdown; a halt to the harassment of civil society, independent media and the political opposition; and space for the free expression of political views, the development of a civil society, and freedom of the media,” Mr. Crowley said. “We will review and adjust our policies based on subsequent actions by the Government of Belarus.” //BelaPAN