BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

19/11/2007

U.S. Official Links Sanctions On Belarus To Status Of Political Prisoners

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs David Kramer told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service that the United States will maintain its sanctions against Belarus unless the government releases all political prisoners, the service reported on November 16. Kramer said that there is a small number of political prisoners in Belarus, but "all of them are important." As long as they are incarcerated, Kramer continued, U.S. authorities will be forced to take steps against Belarus. "It is time for Belarus to act as a respectful member of the OSCE," he added. The United States has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on Belarusian officials over Minsk's violations of human rights and democratic principles. In the latest financial sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department on November 13 froze all assets under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to Belarus's largest petrochemical company, Belnaftakhim, and its representatives, and forbids Americans from doing business with the company on the grounds that it is controlled by President Lukashenka. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/11/3-cee/cee-191107.asp

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