English

US officials hold talks in Minsk

A delegation of the US Department of State stayed in Minsk between January 27 and 29, holding meetings with government officials and opposition politicians.

The delegation, which was led by Daniel Rosenblum, coordinator of US assistance to Europe and Eurasia, met with representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, of Healthcare, and of Labor and Social Security.

On the final day of the visit, Mr. Rosenblum met with Iryna Veshtard, leader of the Hramada Belarusian Social Democratic Party; Syarhey Kalyakin, chairman of the Spravedlivy Mir (Just World) Belarusian Party of the Left; Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party; Alyaksandr Milinkevich, leader of the Movement for Freedom; Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, leader of the "Tell the Truth!" movement; Vital Rymashewski, a co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party; and Belarusian Popular Front leader Alyaksey Yanukevich.

As Mr. Lyabedzka told BelaPAN, the meeting, which lasted for two and a half hours, focused on the situation in Belarus. Subjects such as political prisoners, the disappearances of Alyaksandr Lukashenka`s prominent political opponents, free elections, and the opposition camp`s possible dialogue with the government were under discussion.

The release of political prisoners is the United States` number one priority in Belarus, while human rights respect and free elections also top Washington`s agenda, Mr. Lyabedzka said. "Rymashewski and I put an emphasis on the importance of holding free elections. If we fail to secure that, then it is only the names of those held in pretrial detention centers that will change after another election, and everything will start afresh," he stressed.

According to the politician, Mr. Rosenblum took note of calls for keeping the matter of the high-profile disappearances high on the US agenda.

Mr. Rosenblum said that the appointment of John Kerry as the United States` new secretary of state would not lead to sharp changes in the country`s policy toward Belarus. He denied speculation that Washington may agree to Moscow extending its sphere of influence to all ex-Soviet countries. He also said that a group of US analysts who met with Mr. Lukashenka in Minsk earlier this month had not had prior contacts with the US government and had traveled to Belarus on their own initiative.

"Rosenblum`s visit is evidence of the United States` interest in Belarus. It is good that an official at such a level is interested to learn about the situation in our country. There is an opportunity to ask direct questions and express your stance," Mr. Lyabedzka said.