Jonathan Moore: Russia is pressing on Belarus harder than US
On US-Belarusian relations
“We don’t want to cut ties (with Belarus). We continue to work on cultural programs and exchange programs… Visa processing will be restored on Tuesday. Some Belarusians think that US should not contradict and accept somebody’s reasoning. But diplomacy is not just politeness. A diplomat who does not represent a view point of his country does not get his job done. We get our job done, and this has caused irritation in Belarus. But this is simply a difficult moment in our relations”.
On the “spy ring” discovered by the Belarus TV
“We don’t have spies in Belarus. The people shown (by the state television) are employed by the embassy’s security service. Their names were submitted to the Belarusian foreign ministry as far back as last October. The accusations are unjustified”.
On the arrest of US lawyer Emanuel Zeltser
"We obtained access to Mr Zeltser only on March 12, two weeks after his detention. However, we were unable to discuss the reasons for his arrest. He is on a certain medication, but he does not get it. We are concerned with this fact”.
On the threat to Belarus’s sovereignty and the pressure from US and Russia
“We believe that Belarus must be a sovereign country. Belrusians have the right to choose their future, their allies and their policy by themselves. The moves against Belneftekhim are associated with the freezing of bank accounts. I did not see the statistics that would allow talking about serious economic consequences of those measures. The steps made by Russia have had a much greater effect. I don’t call it sanctions. However, before 2007 the cost of gas was $46 per 1000 cubic meters. Today it is $128. I am confident that it will continue to grow”.
Jonathan Moore also voiced the conditions under which the sanctions against Belneftekhim could be lifted. “We are concerned that there is still one political prisoner behind bars”. Although five people were freed, the process has not continued. We share this position with the European Union. Besides, other conditions include equal opportunities for independent media, free and fair elections and other steps in order to improve Belarus’s human right record”.
