BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/05/2008

EU slams Belarus over US diplomats

The European Union has called on Belarus to reconsider its decision of expelling American diplomats that Minsk claimed to be spies.

In a statement the EU presidency, currently held by Slovenia, called on Belarusian authorities to review the decision and take urgent steps to normalize relations with Washington.

The EU also said that the Minsk's decision was "unjustified and harmful", AP reported.

Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate in November, after the US imposed sanctions on the Belarus national energy company, over alleged human rights abuses, a move Minsk has denounced as "violation of international law."

Belarus national energy company accounts for about a third of the country's foreign currency earnings.

The US Embassy in Belarus is now down to 4 people, after starting the year with a staff of 35. The embassy will remain open, but it will practically offer no services.

Source:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=54657§ionid=351020605

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