US to reduce its embassy staff in Belarus ? AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ARTICLES

US to reduce its embassy staff in Belarus – AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ARTICLES

Белорусские новости

Белорусские новости, Belarus
US embassy complies with staff reduction request

Оригинальная статья24.03 // 18:18 // English


The Minsk-based US embassy has complied with the Belarusian government’s request and reduced its staff, the Belarusian foreign ministry’s press office said, BelaPAN reports.

Jonathan Moore, the US charge d’affaires in Belarus, told Belarusian foreign ministry officials on March 24 that the embassy had cut its staff to the number that the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Washington has in pursuance of Minsk’s request.

US Ambassador Karen Stewart said last week that Minsk wanted equal numbers of diplomats working at the US embassy in Minsk, where there were about 35 staff, and in the Belarusian embassy in Washington, which employs about 20.

While talking to reporters in Minsk on March 20, Andrey Papow, spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, said that “it is necessary to equalize the levels of diplomatic presence on a parity basis,” which means that the USA’s diplomatic presence in Belarus should match that of Belarus in the United States. “The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, in particular Article 11 of this document, gives us such an opportunity in full measure. That is why this demand of the Belarusian side is well-founded,” Mr. Papow said.

Ms. Stewart left Belarus on March 12 under pressure from the Belarusian government. She told The Associated Press that she had returned to Washington after the government had threatened to expel her in retaliation for the US sanctions against Belarus’ petrochemical conglomerate Belnaftakhim. «I was not expelled, but they made it clear that that would be the next step if I did not leave,» she said.

Minsk recalled its ambassador to the USA, Mikhail Khvastow, on March 7 «for consultations» after the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a statement with regard to the applicability of the sanctions, which were imposed by the Department as far back as November 2007 over human rights abuses.

The sanctions included freezing any assets under US jurisdiction belonging to Belnaftakhim and barring US citizens from doing business with Belnaftakhim, and applied to its offices in Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia and China, and its US subsidiary identified as Belneftekhim USA, Inc.

http://naviny.by/rubrics/inter/2008/03/24/ic_news_259_288020/







Riots in Lhasa

09:06, March 25, 2008

U.S. to reduce its embassy staff in Belarus

The United States will reduce the staff number at its embassy in Minsk at the demand of Belarus, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Monday.

The top U.S. diplomat in Belarus Jonathan Moore said on Monday a number of U.S. diplomats will leave Belarus at the request of the Belarussian side for equal diplomatic presence, said Belarussian Foreign Ministry on Monday.

Andrei Popov, the press secretary of the Belarussian Foreign Ministry, said there is the need to equalize on a parity basis the level of the presence of U.S. diplomats in Belarus, and, respectively, of Belarussian diplomats in the United States.

"The Vienna Convention offers such opportunities full well," Popov said.

The specific number of diplomats to leave Belarus is not given. However, the U.S. embassy in Minsk previously has 35 employees, while the Belarussian embassy in Washington has 18.

On March 7, Minsk recalled its ambassador from the United States and urged the U.S. envoy to leave the country for a consultation.

On March 12, U.S. ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart left Belarus for Washington, and on March 17, the Belarussian Foreign Ministry suggested that the staff of the U.S. embassy in Minsk be reduced.

Bilateral ties between the United States and Belarus has been tense since Washington imposed new sanctions against Belarussian national oil products firm Belneftekhim last year.

Source:Xinhua


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Belarus Says It Has Uncovered US Spy Network

By VOA News
25 March 2008






Belarus's intelligence agency says it has uncovered a network of U.S. spies working in the ex-Soviet republic.

The intelligence agency, known by its Soviet-era initials KGB, made the claim Tuesday. The country's state-run television Sunday accused the U.S. Embassy in Minsk of recruiting spies in Belarus.

The move is the latest sign of crumbling diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Monday, the U.S. embassy announced that it is cutting its staff by nearly half as demanded by Belarusian authorities.

A U.S. State Department spokesman accused Belarus of choosing confrontation and isolation instead of engagement and democratic reform.

The tension between the two countries increased after Washington imposed sanctions last year on the state-run oil processing firm, Belneftekhim.

Earlier this month, U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart left Belarus under what she said was pressure by the Belarusian government.

Last week, the U.S. embassy stopped issuing visas to Belarusians.

The U.S. has called Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko Europe's last dictator, and accused the country of violating free speech and human rights and rigging elections.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.





The Moscow Times



Monday, March 24, 2008. Issue 3867. Page 4.

U.S. Urged to Back Off Belarus

Reuters



Ria-novosti / Reuters

Zubkov shaking hands with Lukashenko during talks in Minsk on Friday.

MINSK -- Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov has called on the United States to ease its pressure on Belarus and vowed support for its president, Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus is involved in a diplomatic spat with the United States, which calls the country the "last dictatorship in Europe" and has imposed a travel ban on Lukashenko over Minsk's detention of an opposition politician.

"The Russian Federation thinks this is a politicized step. We call on Washington to rethink its line on Belarus," Zubkov told Lukashenko at a news conference for an economic forum.

U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk temporarily earlier this month in the wake of two requests for her departure over Washington's imposition of financial sanctions against Belneftekhim, the state oil products company.

Stewart said Tuesday that Washington would only hold talks on easing sanctions if Belarus released its most prominent political detainee, Alexander Kozulin, who ran against Lukashenko in the 2006 election that kept him in power.

Belarus on Thursday suggested that Stewart would be barred from returning to Minsk until financial sanctions imposed on Belneftekhim were lifted.

On Friday, Belarussian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said his country had no interest in a confrontation with the United States nor in a worsening of relations.

"The Belarussian side does not want an escalation of tensions with the U.S.A., and what is more, it does not want diplomatic complications," Sidorsky said.

He also said the sanctions violated multilateral and bilateral agreements among Belarus, the European Union and the United States on the normalization of their relations.

"Belarus has taken steps to normalize relations with the U.S. and EU. The additional measures taken against Belneftekhim break the agreed-upon structures," Sidorsky said.







Хартыя 97

BELARUS OPPOSITION



25 March 2008, Tue
22:03

U.S. Department of State: “Belarus has taken a path of confrontation and isolation”

8:19, — Politics

George Bush administration expressed deep regret in connection with necessity to reduce twofold staff of the U.S. embassy in Minsk and said “Belarus has taken a path of confrontation and isolation.”

The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded last week to cut staff of the U.S. embassy in Belarus. The Belarusian foreign ministry recommended the U.S. ambassador to leave the country for consultations. These steps were taken in response to imposing restricting economic measures against Belarus by the United States.

“The United States will, with great regret, reduce the number of American staff at our embassy in Minsk by almost half, at the insistence of the Government of Belarus," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement, spread in Washington on Monday.

The document says "visa processing in Belarus is temporarily suspended,” but the embassy “continues to provide all American citizen services in Belarus.”

We also regret the closure of several of our American Corners by the regime in Minsk. These resource facilities in local libraries provide access to current and reliable information about the U.S. via book collections and the internet,” McCormack says in his statement.











Хартыя 97

Mass arrests and beating on Freedom day in Minsk (Online report, video) важная новость?51

16:58, — Politics

Mass arrests and beating on Freedom day in Minsk (Online report, video)

A mass demonstration in honour of Freedom Day is held today in the Minsk center. Militia blocked Yakub Kolas Square, where participants of the action were to meet. Thousands of people have taken to Independence Avenue in Minsk. Cordons of riot militia are beating brutally the people. However, mass protests go on, people are breaking riot militia cordons and moving along Independence Avenue. Militia detained people near Victory Square. Tens and probably hundreds of people have been arrested.

8.05p.m.

Action near the Academy of Sciences is over. People were not allowed to go to the city center along the avenue. There is information about detained people near Victory Square. It is known that 49 people are in the militia department of the Savetski District of Minsk. So it’s safe to say the number of detained demonstrators exceeds 100 people.

7.45p.m.

A column of demonstrators is trying to march from the Academy of Science along Independence Avenue towards Yakub Kolas Square. The road was cordoned off by riot policemen in helmets, two armoured MAZ trucks and a bus.

7.35p.m.

People, who are now in different militia departments of Minsk, are seriously beaten. It is known that some of them have broken ribs and head injuries. Zmitser Dashkevich had big bruises on his face, when he was being packed into a bus.

7.25 p.m.

22 A truck with loud speakers drove up to the Academy of Sciences. Militia threats to use physical force and special equipment against the participants of the action, if they don’t disperse.

7.15p.m.

About 300 people moved from Victory Square to October Square and were detained on the bridge above the Svislach. Tens of people were packed into buses and taken away. Most of the detained are members of the United Civil Party.

7.10p.m.

According to the current information, about 25 people have been guarded to the militia department of the Savetski District of Minsk. Tens of people were probably guarded to other militia departments of Minsk. Youth leaders Yauhen Afnahel, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Dashkevich and Franak Vyachorka are among the detained.

7.00p.m.

Demonstration near the Academy of Sciences goes on. About four thousands of people stay there. A large amount of European and national white-red-white flags are waving. People carry a huge banner “Freedom for Kazulin!” Opposition leaders are holding a meeting there. The authorities permitted the demonstrants to meet near the Academy of Sciences. Demonstrants had to go there after cordons of militia and riot militia didn’t allow them to meet on Yakub Kolas Square. People, who managed to avoid arrest near Victory Square, came there, too.

6.45p.m.

More and more people are seized and packed into buses. Thus, four paddy-wagons were packed full. The passage along the avenue is blocked by military trucks and policemen.

6.40p.m.

Militia began to detain people near Victory Square. Ten and probably hundreds of people are arrested. People are beaten brutally. Militia detain even journalists. Among the arrested is photo correspondent of “Nasha Niva” Andrei Lyankevich, militiamen dragged bloody faced Lyankevich into a militia vehicle.

6.37p.m.

Army vehicles with militiamen in helmets and with shields drove up to Victory Square

6.35p.m.

At the moment about 3,000 people have gathered near the Academy of Science. They are people who hadn’t managed to Yakub Kolas Square. On Victory Square the confrontation of demonstrators with riot policemen continues. Riot policemen went onto the offensive. Clasping hands, they moved as one chain, pushing protesters off the avenue. But participants of the rally nevertheless are trying to break through riot policemen’s cordons.

6.30p.m.

People are beaten brutally in the backyards near Independence Avenue, and taken away in unknown direction.

6.25p.m.

About a thousand of people are near the Academy of Sciences now. The same number of participants of the action stay near Belvar plant. Militia officers are trying to force them out of Independence Avenue.

6.20p.m.

Militia continue to beat people. Independence Avenue has turned into battlefield. European and national white-red-white flags appeared under the foot of riot militiamen. Riot militia formed a four-line chain on the avenue and divided the column in two.

6.17p.m.

Riot militiamen are literally stifling people, beating them brutally, snatching away flags, tramping them in mud and breaking flagpoles.

6.15p.m.

Militia and riot militiamen began to beat people. They caught even journalists, broke their equipment. They snatched away flags and broke flagpoles. But the protestors managed to defend the people, militia was trying to detain, and the column under whit-red-white and European flags is moving along the avenue.

6.12p.m.

Demonstrants have broken through the cordon of riot militia and now are moving along Independence Avenue to Victory Square.

6.10p.m.

Riot militiamen encircled participants of the demonstration and keep them in the circle. People are trying to break through a cordon and shouting “Long live Belarus!”

6.05p.m.

The number of action participants is growing. About 2-3 thousands of people are on Independence Avenue now, white-red-white and European flags are waving. Demonstrants are carrying a big banner “European Belarus”, shouting “Long Live Belarus,” and moving to Victory Square. Militia and riot militiamen are following them.

6.00p.m.

Independence Avenue is blocked by tens of militiamen and riot militiamen, who have come there. They formed a chain and are moving to people, forcing them out of the avenue.

5.55p.m.

The number of action participants is growing. People are gathering on Independence Avenue opposite the Minsk Gymnasium No23. They unfurled national white-red-white flags. Many people have brought white and red flowers. Demonstrants shout “Long live Belarus!” and demand to let them go to Yakub Kolas Square.

5.50p.m.

Participants of the action on Freedom Day are gathering on Independence Avenue opposite the Minsk Gymnasium No23. About 1000 people, shouting “Long live Belarus!”, have already gathered.

5.45p.m.

Independence Avenue is blocked from the side of the Academy of Sciences. Militiamen don’t allow people to go to Yakub Kolas Square and say via loud speakers the moving is forbidden.

5.40p.m.

Militia blocked Independence Avenue near Victory Square and don’t allow people to come to Yakub Kolas Square.

5.35p.m.

Metro trains don’t stop at Yakub Kolas station, where a protest action is to begin at 18.00. city buses don’t stop on Yakub Kolas Square, too. The public transport goes to Victory Square or Academy of Sciences, and drivers announce: “the bus won’t stop at the square due to the demonstration.”

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Хартыя 97

KGB Chairman: “It was prevention” 20

15:23, — Politics

The chairman of the KGB (State Security Committee) of Belarus Yury Zhadobin has stated that nobody was detained in the case of a spy network which worked under cover of the US Embassy in Minsk.

“Nobody was detained. We are performing our functions. The main function is to prevent, avoid perpetration of a crime,” the head of the Belarusian KGB stated answering a question of Interfax agency in Minsk on Tuesday.

“That is why the KGB system has such a method as prevention. Prevention can be general and individual one, and in this case we are engaged in preventive work,” Zhadobin said. At present, as said by him, “a check-out is held, to which extent this or that article of the law had been violated”.

The KGB chief stated: “We hereby confirm that the information about this group being exposed on TV is completely true”. “It’s that somebody is trying to dictate us their laws at our territory, speaking in Russian, ‘to break into another’s monastery imposing one’s rule of life’, is unacceptable and is not permitted to anyone,” the KGB head emphasized.

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Хартыя 97

Lukashenka’s regime will help Venezuela to create air defence system 4

15:48, — Army

Over 6 years Belarus will create an air defence system and electronic warfare support in Venezuela, stated First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus Pyotr Tsikhanouski, when ratification of the corresponding agreement was discussed in the parliament.

“It is supposed that in 6 years an air defence system would be stationed in Venezuela, including training of experts and overhead personnel,” Pyotr Tsikhanouski said.

According to Tsikhanouski’s estimation, three is no “air defence system in Venezuela now, they have separate units, fighter aviation, but no air defence system”. First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus believes that creation of the air defence system in Venezuela would allow Belarus occupy armaments markets in Latin America. As said by him, it is supposed that different types of armaments would be used: “125th complex and others that would be imported to Venezuela on contracts of authorized agencies”.

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