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Foreign office comments on new US sanctions

The Belarusian foreign ministry views fresh US sanctions targeting the country's enterprises as "another opportunity to display common sense and get off the path of confrontation that was missed by the American side," Andrey Savinykh, spokesman for the ministry, said in formal comments on August 12.

"Unfortunately, the US administration's actions have been limited by outdated sanction clichés that lead to a dead end," he said.

According to Mr. Savinykh, facing a worsening financial crisis aggravated by the US public's eroded trust in the government, Washington "continues taking measures that harm, above all, the interests of US businesspeople who cooperate lucratively with Belarusian manufacturers."
Minsk reserves the right to take similar retaliatory measures against the United States, Mr. Savinykh said.

On August 11, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control prohibited US persons from engaging in commercial or financial transactions with oil refinery Naftan in Navapolatsk, the Hrodna Azot manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizers and the Hrodna Khimvalakno manufacturer of nylon and polyester yarns and fibers, both based in the western Belarusian city, as well as Babruysk-based Belshyna, one of Europe’s largest tire manufacturers. Any assets that the companies may have under US jurisdiction are to be frozen. //BelaPAN