The USA extended for one year the sanctions on some governing bodies of Belarus, the press-service of the White House informed. They were imposed on June, 16th, 2006 by President George Bush, Jr.
«The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Accordingly, the measures adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond June 16, 2010. In accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency», the press-service reproduces the text of the letter transmitted on Tuesday evening by Barack Obama to the US Congress.
US president emphasized that there was certain progress in democratization of the Belarus society, however the efforts of the country leaders were insufficient to lift the sanctions, Korrespondent.net informs.
«Despite the release of internationally recognized political prisoners in the fall of 2008 and our continuing efforts to press for further reforms related to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Belarus, serious challenges remain», Barack Obama declared.
Earlier the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko declared that he was disappointed with the contemporary relations with the West which hadn’t reciprocated the steps undertaken by Belarus towards the Western countries. He was also disappointed in Moscow which decided to develop pragmatic relations with Minsk.
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In the summer of 2006 George Bush ordered to block the property and assets of the ten officials of Belarus, including Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, Stepan Sukharenko, chairman of Belarusian KGB, Alexander Zimovski, chairman of the Belarusian Broadcasting Company, Vladimir Naumov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Belarus, to Natalia Petkevich, the assistant to the head of the Office of the President of Belarus, and others.
People included in the list are forbidden to have any assets in the US and to do business with the American partners. The Order of «blocking of the property and property rights» of the Belarusian officials extends annually.
In response to imposing sanctions in 2006 the Belarusian authorities declared that they had no property and assets in the USA. However George Bush and Condoleeza Rice’s assets in Belarus were ordered to be blocked in response.
