BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
20/03/2008
U.S. Embassy Suspends Issuing Visas For Belarusians
The U.S. Embassy in Minsk said in a March 19 statement that it has temporarily stopped the issuance of visas because of the government's urgent request for staff cuts. "The U.S. government is in the process of reviewing the request made by the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 17 that the U.S. Embassy in Minsk reduce its staffing," the embassy said. "Therefore, visa processing has been temporarily suspended while our resources are engaged addressing other priorities. Some visa appointments have been postponed. Further information will be provided once the extent of the U.S. Embassy's ability to provide visa services in Belarus has been determined." Diplomatic relations between Minsk and Washington have deteriorated due to the economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department against Belarus's largest petrochemical company, Belnaftakhim (see "RFE/RL Newsline," March 17, 18, and 19, 2008). In November 2007, the department froze all assets under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to Belnaftakhim and its representatives, and barred Americans from doing business with the company, which it says is controlled by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. On March 7, Minsk recalled its ambassador to the United States, Mikhail Khvastou, for consultations and urged U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart to temporarily leave Belarus, which she did on March 12. AM
Source:
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/03/3-cee/cee-200308.asp
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