Jonathan Moore: “Freedom in Belarus is not a bargaining thing”
- 20.05.2008, 9:59
Diplomatic conflict between Minsk and Washington lasts for two months. Due to US economic sanctions against Belneftekhim company the states recalled theirs ambassadors for consultations and reduced embassies’ staff. The US Department of the Treasury has recently said the restrictions are expanded to the company-owned Belarusian Oil Trade House, Lakokraska and Steklovolokno enterprises.
US Charge d’Affaires in Belarus Jonathan Moore told to “Vremya Novostei” how this conflict could be arranged.
– Relations may thaw if the situation with human rights in Belarus improves. It looked like it early in the year, when Minsk released some political prisoners. But we haven’t seen positive changes since February.
– Rumours on possible shutting down of the embassies and diplomatic break have appeared...
– The US embassy in Minsk works, though only four diplomats remained there. Decisions are taken by politicians. I hope Belarus will have its embassy in the US and the US - in Belarus.
– The US has said about sanctions on three Belarusian plants. Are they the new sanctions, the US spoke earlier?
– It is a matter of interpretation. The European Union and the US imposed visa restrictions against Belarusian officials after the presidential elections 2006. In 2007 the US extended sanctions, imposed them to state-run Belneftekhim company. It was a continuation of the previous measures. The Department of the Treasury clarified the sanctions on Belneftekhim’s subsidiaries in March. Three subordinated to the company enterprises, which among other sfall under earlier imposed sanctions, were named. It is not imposing of new restrictions. A decision on further sanctions will be taken in Washington, if the situation with human rights doesn’t improve in Belarus.
– Can the sanctions be lifted if Alyaksandr Kazulin, Syarhei Parsyukevich and Andrei Kim, considered to be political prisoners by the US, are released?
– Freedom of democratic activists in Belarus is not a bargaining thing. But release of three political prisoners will be taken positively by Washington. There have recently been six political prisoners, then one Kazulin, now there are three of them (in 2006 former presidential candidate Kazulin was sentenced to five and a half years in prison on a charge of riot organising, in April 2008 Parsyukevich and Kim were sentenced on the case of beating militiamen to two and a half years and a year and a half respectively. – Editor’s note).
– Alyaksandr Lukashenka said some opposition figures can get to the parliament at September elections. Will it influence the position of the United States?
– We will follow the elections with great interest. It is important for us that the process, including candidate registration, electoral campaign and voting will be open. It means access of the opposition to state media and possibility for independent observers to observe the votes counting. The estimations will be made on the base of these facts. We find positive the statement of Minsk that Belarus is open for observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
– What if the sanctions will push Belarus to closer integration with Russia?
– Belarus and Russia are neighbours with important economic and cultural ties. We admit the lawful interests of Belarus and Russia to carry on the bilateral policy as they see proper, but we emphasise, the US stands for the sovereignty of Belarus.
– Pyotr Prakapovich, head of the Belarusian National Bank, said the US sanctions threaten away western investors. It will play into the hands of Russian businessmen...
– The US agrees with Russia that the Belarusian economy is in desperate need of reforming. Transition to market needs changes in laws, which would prove investors their interests are defended. Without reforms Belarus may face danger, connected with energy prices growth. There is a risk of non-transparent asset sale, which wouldn’t make good for the Belarusian people.