US doesn't want to cut ties with Belarus
The United States does not expect that Belarus "will cut ties and close down its embassy in Washington", said Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman.
He also added that Belarus "like any other country is free to determine how it wishes to manage its diplomatic relations with us and with other countries".
Casey noted that it was important and necessary for the United States to leave a high level of diplomatic representation in Minsk and to keep pressing for the release of Alexander Kozulin and "to work on other human rights issues".
Tom Casey stressed US readiness to "preserve an embassy in the Belarusian capital headed by a good ambassador".
On March 17, the Belarusian authorities issued a fresh "insistent" recommendation to reduce the number of staff at the US embassy in Minsk. US Ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk for consultations on March 12, following a similar step by the Belarus ambassador in Washington, reports Belapan
He also added that Belarus "like any other country is free to determine how it wishes to manage its diplomatic relations with us and with other countries".
Casey noted that it was important and necessary for the United States to leave a high level of diplomatic representation in Minsk and to keep pressing for the release of Alexander Kozulin and "to work on other human rights issues".
Tom Casey stressed US readiness to "preserve an embassy in the Belarusian capital headed by a good ambassador".
On March 17, the Belarusian authorities issued a fresh "insistent" recommendation to reduce the number of staff at the US embassy in Minsk. US Ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk for consultations on March 12, following a similar step by the Belarus ambassador in Washington, reports Belapan
