BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

09/12/2006

Congress authorizes more money for Belarus opposition, urges tighter U.S. sanctions

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON: Congress has passed legislation that urges the Bush administration to tighten sanctions on Belarus and reauthorizes money for independent media and democratic groups opposed to the authoritarian government in the ex-Soviet republic.

The House of Representatives passed the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006 by a vote of 397-2 on Friday. The Senate voted unanimously to pass the bill.

The legislation is "a reminder to the brave reformers of Belarus that we are in solidarity with their struggle and will not rest until their aspirations are achieved," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer in a statement.

Republican Congressman Chris Smith, who introduced the bill in the House, condemned the government of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as corrupt and antidemocratic.

Lukashenko, often called "Europe's last dictator," has ruled Belarus since 1994, quashing dissent, harassing and jailing opponents and maintaining his power through elections dismissed by critics abroad as illegitimate.

The legislation renews the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004. The bill must be still be signed by President George W. Bush.

The legislation would have the Bush administration prohibit U.S. loans and most exports to Belarus as an addition to travel restrictions already in place against senior Belarusian officials. It also includes a statement demanding the release of political prisoners in Belarus and denying recognition of the results of Lukashenko's March re-election.

Source:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/09/america/NA_GEN_US_Belarus_Sanctions.php