The U.S. Is Waiting for a Step Forward from Belarus, Scanlan

28.07.2010 09:59
Архив Редакция

If Belarus wants to cooperate with the United States, it must make a step forward, US Charge d'Affaires to Belarus, Michael Scanlan, stated on July 27 in Raubichy during Ambasovishcha festival. "We have not changed our position on the situation with human rights in Belarus", the U.S. official said.

The diplomat noted with regret that the U.S. was forced to abandon the ambassador’s residence in Raubichy. Since March 2008, the U.S. Embassy in Belarus is headed by Charge d’Affaires, as Minsk recalled its ambassador from Washington. Michael Scanlan explained that nobody had lived in the house — the former ambassador’s residence — during two years, and the Belarusian side had not made any signals the situation to change somehow.

«Actions are more important than words. Everyone knows what our rejection of the residence means. We remain committed to our cause. The U.S. Embassy stays in Minsk and continues to work», the diplomat said, Charter 97 press center informs.

Relations between Minsk and Washington deteriorated in March 2008, after Belarusian authorities had refused to release political prisoners. Ambassadors of Belarus and the United States were recalled for consultations, the staff of both embassies was reduced to a minimum.

At the same time, as Telegraf reported earlier, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, stated that Belarus had a neat dialogue with current White House administration. «Recently, there has started a process of de-escalation of bilateral relations, their atmosphere is gradually returning to normal», the head of state said.

At the same time Alexander Lukashenko added that «the United States has made some small steps towards the improvement of bilateral relations». According to Belarusian leader, over last year there liven up high and high-level contacts with representatives of American administration, legislative power, business community.

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