BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/04/2008

US says slams Belarus call for more embassy staff cuts

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A request from Belarus to the United States to further cut US embassy staff in Minsk is "unwarranted and unjustified," a US official said Friday.

"We believe this latest request, like several before it, is unwarranted and unjustified," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey told reporters, suggesting Washington may not comply with it.

"We will certainly be continuing to discuss that issue with the government of Belarus, but I'm aware of no plans to make such a drawdown of embassy staff," Casey added.

Belarus said Wednesday it was cutting staff in its Washington embassy to seven and demanded the United States reciprocate, in an ongoing row over US sanctions against the ex-Soviet state for human rights abuses.

The move would mean a further reduction of 10 diplomats at the US embassy in Minsk, which last month withdrew ambassador Karen Stewart and cut staff from 27 to 17 at Belarus' request.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the foreign assets of Belneftekhim to pressure the authoritarian government of President Alexander Lukashenko to allow democratic freedoms and release political prisoners.

Source:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080404/usa/belarus_us_diplomacy_7

Google