US Charge d'Affaires: “Now everything depends on Belarusian authorities”
- 5.11.2008, 13:02
US Charge d'Affaires in Minsk Jonathan Moore comments on the results of the presidential elections in America to the Charter’97 press center.
– Mr Moore, how do you comment this electoral campaign in the US?
– Both Republicans and Democrats have had different campaigns. One of the examples is that it is only the second time in the history of the US when a woman was running for US Vice President. It is the first time in the American history when an Afro-American was nominated for President. It is also very important that none of the candidates was not president or vice president of the US. It was in 1952 for the last time, if I’m not mistaken. Candidates for President were absolutely new people but they have political roots, especially in the Senate.
I find this context very interesting. It is good that results are seen, that McCain has already phoned to Obama, there are no conflicts, speculations, for example, it is clear who won in Florida and other states. I think everything is clear for the people of America, too. We hope it is a good, positive result for the whole world as well.
– What does election of Afro-American President mean for the United States?
– It’s rather interesting. It has happened for the first time in our history. But on the other side, there is nothing new here. State Secretaries Condoleezza Rice and, earlier, Colin Powel are Afro-Americans. We have governors and officers of the Government, the Congress, the Supreme Court, who are African Americans. It is not new for the latest 30–40 years. There is no miracle. It is reality of the modern America. In my view, people who said ‘Americans will never vote for him” understand that they were wrong. America is a country of different roots, from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America. In this context, being a dweller of Illinois, the state where Obama was born, I think there is no miracle, it is just a fact of current situation in the United States.
– What steps can to be expected from Barack Obama on the international scene?
– To my mind, he will change our policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the global context, I think the US foreign policy will remain the same. In any case, what concerns Belarus, I don’t expect serious changes in our relations and our policy. I’d like to note that now everything depends on the policy of the Belarusian authorities. It is evident that the economic crisis will have a more serious impact over Belarusian economy, than it was expected. The Belarusian authorities are hosting a delegation of the International Monetary Fund, they say the Belarusian economy needs reforming. Actually, the Belarusian economy can’t be successful without free market. The economy should be opened, privatisation is needed, but it should be done in a transparent, open way in order to have not only privatisation but also competition, in order for the different persons, different investors to be able to take part in it.
– After the European Union suspended sanctions on Lukashenka and Belarusian officials, many Belarusians think the United States is the only country holding a principal position on the dictatorial regime of Lukashenka. Will America preserve its principality?
– Our policy won’t change. It is important to emphasise that I don’t agree the policy of the EU countries is not so principal. I think the EU’s policy is good, too, the sanctions were suspended for 6 months. It is temporary. It is a very important principle. Of course, there are many European diplomats in Belarus. The US has only one embassy in Minsk, while the European Union has many of them. There is a great deal of ideas, theories, prospects, but, in the end, it depends on the policy of Brussels, not on a single ambassador or a single embassy. I think Brussels has made a positive decision. I stress that sanction suspending wasn’t connected with the recent parliamentary elections that showed no success at all. Sanctions suspending is connected with release of political prisoners. In this context, we want to move further with our European colleagues. By the way, I visited Brussels two weeks ago. I wouldn’t say our policy is absolutely ideal. The Belarusian authorities have 6 months. Fundamentally, our policy towards Belarus remains the same – we are interested in respect for human rights, democracy, freedom of speech and press.
Translated from Russian by the Charter’97 press center