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USA preparing new sanctions against Belarus

 

The United States is preparing new sanctions against the Belarusian government over its crackdown on the opposition and civil society after December`s presidential election, a senior US diplomat revealed on Thursday.

Speaking at a debate held by a US Senate committee, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said that the sanctions will be announced on January 31, the day when the EU foreign ministers are expected to approve the bloc`s measures against Minsk, in order to "send a unified international message" to the authorities, AFP said.

In particular, he said, the United States plans to expand the list of Belarusian government officials barred from the country.

US President Barack Obama`s administration also aims to revoke a license allowing for business ties between US citizens and two companies controlled by Belnaftakhim, Belarus`s state petrochemical industry conglomerate, the diplomat revealed.

In addition, there are plans to impose financial sanctions targeting a number of people and legal entities, according to Mr. Gordon.

David Kramer, a leader of Washington-based group Freedom House, noted that the situation was worse than after the 2006 presidential election, which he said could only mean that Alyaksandr Lukashenka "got less than 50 percent of the vote and is lashing out in fear of losing power," Voice of America said.

Mr. Kramer said that pressure and financial loss is the only language that Mr. Lukashenka understands and that the policy of engagement has failed.

Senator Richard Durbin and Thomas O. Melia, deputy assistant secretary of state, spoke about their recent visits to Minsk. The latter official, who met with government officials and the families of jailed opposition activists during the visit that concluded earlier this week, said that he was shocked at massive human rights abuse in Belarus.

Kenneth Wallack of the National Democratic Institute in Washington said Belarus should be expelled from all international organizations, including the OSCE, according to Voice of America.

Mr. Wallack said that the US should act jointly with the European Union and other members of the international community. //BelaPAN