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PRESS RELEASE
On Visit
of Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia to Belarus
Washington,
D.C.,
February
27, 2006
Deputy
Assistant US Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia David Kramer visited
Belarus on February 23-25, 2006. Taking into account that the development of
constructive relations with the United States has always been one of the
main priorities of Belarus foreign policy, the Belarusian side welcomed the
visit.
On 23
February D. Kramer had meetings in Minsk at the Foreign Ministry and the
Central Election Commission.
During the
meetings the American diplomat was informed of the process of the
presidential campaign in Belarus. D. Kramer positively assessed the
invitation by the Belarusian authorities of the international observers, the
registration of four presidential candidates, and broadcasting their
statements on the Belarusian television.
The
Belarusian side expected from D. Kramer a detailed dialog not only about the
elections campaign. During the meeting that took place in the Ministry of
Foreign Affaires a wide range of issues of bilateral agenda was offered to
the American diplomat. However, we did not receive any serious proposals on
solving problems that exist in bilateral relations and on development of
cooperation in the fields of mutual interests.
There was
the impression that the representative of the US State Department either was
not ready to have a substantial dialog or did not posses the appropriate
authorities.
The
Belarusian side was asked by the American side to assist in presenting the
comprehensive and objective look at the processes in Belarus. However, the
US representatives turned down the proposal made by the Belarusian side to
hold meetings at the National Assembly, CIS observation mission, embassies
of some CIS countries. The Belarusian side believes that these meetings
could contribute to the formation of the balanced and objective look at
Belarus by American official.
The
representative of the US State Department also declared his negative
approach to see representatives of the Belarusian state mass-media at his
press-conference. Besides, it turned out that the information about the
place and time of the press-conference was under a great secret. It is
impossible to understand the reasons for such secrecy of the American side
vis-à-vis the mass-media.
Such
actions give grounds to feel a doubt about the objective and unbiased
approach of the American side to develop bilateral dialog with Belarus. It
is unlikely that such approach may contribute into the creation of a climate
of mutual respect and trust between the nations of the two countries,
promote the normalization of relations between Belarus and the United
States.
Moreover,
the persistency of the representative of the US State Department to develop
the issue of possible "forced appearances and protests in Belarus during the
elections campaign" raised further surprise. It is absolutely unclear what
this matter is about. Every citizen of Belarus realizes that there are no
any grounds for that. Everybody notices the calm holding of the elections
campaign that has been carrying out in accordance with the law.
If the
American side has reliable information about the preparations for such
actions the Belarusian side would greatly appreciate sharing it with us in
order to prevent any violence. We also would like to ask the United States
to use all its potential to dissuade implicit initiators from the conducting
of disorders in case the American side keeps contacts with them.
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