BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/11/2007

Minsk demands unfreezing of Belneftekhim assets

Belarus has demanded that the United States immediately unfreeze Belneftekhim assets. The US government froze the assets earlier last week. US Ambassador in Minsk Karen Stuart was summoned to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on November 15, Interfax quoted ministry spokesman Andrei Popov as telling a press briefing. "The Belarusian side launched a strong protest and handed over a related written statement," he said.

The statement is based on an earlier commentary by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry. The ambassador was also told that the United States had breached the Security Memorandum to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Popov said.

The United States has breached the trade agreement with Belarus, as well. That agreement pledged no economic pressure, he said. "Politically motivated economic pressure is impermissible from the point of view of international law," Popov said. "The Belarusian side demanded that the U.S. government immediately return the assets to their legitimate owner, Belneftekhim Concern, and lift any limits on economic transactions," he said.

Minsk disengages itself from any commitments that may occur on US territory as a result of the freezing of Belneftekhim assets, Popov said. "The Belarusian side disengages itself from any commitments that have or may occur and refers them to the US government," he said.

Popov said he would not go into detail of Belarus' possible response. "Belarus has never based its foreign relations on threats or sanctions. Yet it will have to react to an unfriendly situation, as any self-respecting state should," he said.

Source:

http://www.neurope.eu/articles/80077.php