US to keep sanctions despite trimming embassy staff
The Bush administration describes as unjustified the demands of Minsk to reduce more staff at the US embassy in Minsk, according to the statement from the US State Department, reports the Russian news agency PRIME-TASS. Belarus's deputy foreign minister V. Haysyonak said yesterday that Belarus was to cut the number of staff at the Belarusian embassy in Washington to 7 people and expected the American side to do the same in Minsk.
A US State Department official told PRIME-TASS that US was "studying the options of how to respond". The diplomat would not elaborate on the details.
At the same time, he once again called on the government in Belarus "to respect political freedoms and basic human rights of its population", and "to free immediately all the political prisoners". "Only after this, the US and Belarus can start moving toward a significant dialogue", the diplomat said.
He confirmed that the United States had no intention to lift sanctions against the Belneftekhim petrochemical monopoly, which provoked the current crisis in the bilateral relations.
In respond to the US sanctions against Belneftekhim, Belarus on March 7 recalled its ambassador in Washington Mikhail Khvostov. On March 12 US ambassador in Minsk Karen Stewart left Belarus, following "strong recommendations" from the Belarusian foreign ministry. Afterwards, Belarus demanded that US reduce its diplomatic staff in Minsk to match the number of Belarusian diplomats in America. On March 27, 17 US diplomats left Belarus, thus halving the number of staff in Minsk.
Belarus's deputy foreign minister V. Haysyonak on April 2 said in a statement that Belarus was to reduce the number of staff at its embassy in Washington to 7 people and demanded the US to do the same. Therefore, 10 more US diplomats will have to leave Belarus.
Haysyonak also stated that Belarus expected "a full and unconditional abolition of sanctions against Belneftekhim" by the United States.
A US State Department official told PRIME-TASS that US was "studying the options of how to respond". The diplomat would not elaborate on the details.
At the same time, he once again called on the government in Belarus "to respect political freedoms and basic human rights of its population", and "to free immediately all the political prisoners". "Only after this, the US and Belarus can start moving toward a significant dialogue", the diplomat said.
He confirmed that the United States had no intention to lift sanctions against the Belneftekhim petrochemical monopoly, which provoked the current crisis in the bilateral relations.
In respond to the US sanctions against Belneftekhim, Belarus on March 7 recalled its ambassador in Washington Mikhail Khvostov. On March 12 US ambassador in Minsk Karen Stewart left Belarus, following "strong recommendations" from the Belarusian foreign ministry. Afterwards, Belarus demanded that US reduce its diplomatic staff in Minsk to match the number of Belarusian diplomats in America. On March 27, 17 US diplomats left Belarus, thus halving the number of staff in Minsk.
Belarus's deputy foreign minister V. Haysyonak on April 2 said in a statement that Belarus was to reduce the number of staff at its embassy in Washington to 7 people and demanded the US to do the same. Therefore, 10 more US diplomats will have to leave Belarus.
Haysyonak also stated that Belarus expected "a full and unconditional abolition of sanctions against Belneftekhim" by the United States.
