Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1404
2005-11-21 14:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
GOB: "We're Peaceful, Friendly"
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UNCLAS MINSK 001404
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI BO
SUBJECT: GOB: "We're Peaceful, Friendly"
REF: MINSK 1384
UNCLAS MINSK 001404
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI BO
SUBJECT: GOB: "We're Peaceful, Friendly"
REF: MINSK 1384
1. Summary and comment: In recent weeks Belarusian state owned
television has aired several hostile and tendentious "news"
programs accusing U.S. diplomats of espionage, orchestrating the
political opposition, and trying to destabilize Belarus. State
owned newspapers have carried similar stories (reftel). GOB
officials have also publicly accused the United States of
conducting a "propaganda war" and of trying to overthrow the
Belarusian government. These acts are clearly Belarusian
propaganda aimed at manipulating the upcoming presidential
elections. The Embassy formally complained about such vitriolic
and irresponsible statements in a letter from the Ambassador to the
Foreign Minister and in a diplomatic note. The GOB replied in a
diplomatic note that Belarus is a "peaceful" state seeking
"friendly" relations with everyone. However, the note regrets the
"systematic highly offensive, false and provocative allegations and
actions of the U.S. highest officials toward Belarus [sic]." End
summary and comment.
2. Begin text of Belarusian response (presented in English):
Note No. 12-06/25650-H
Minsk, 11 November 2005
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in
the Republic of Belarus and referring to H.E. Ambassador George
Krol's letter dated 27 October 2005 and Embassy's Note N 316/05
dated 28 October 2005 has the honor to inform the Embassy that the
Republic of Belarus is conducting a peaceful foreign policy aimed
at forming and developing in-depth friendly relations with all
states ready for equal and mutually respectful dialogue.
During the meeting of the Security Council of the Republic of
Belarus on 30 September 2005 the President of the Republic of
Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated that there is no direct
security threat to Belarus. Not giving up its national interest in
the sphere of security the Republic of Belarus is striving for
partnership relations with all countries, international
organizations and alliances without any exclusion.
The republic of Belarus rejects information wars as a tool to
achieve foreign policy goals. We note with regret that systematic
highly offensive, false and provocative allegations and actions of
the U.S. highest officials toward Belarus and its leadership do not
contribute to creation of confidence and productive bilateral co-
operation between Belarus and the United States on these
principles.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity
to renew to the Embassy of the United States of American in the
Republic of Belarus the assurances of its high consideration.
End text.
3. Begin text of U.S. diplomatic note of October 28:
No. 316/05
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Belarus and has the honor to draw the Ministry's attention to the
statements of Belarusian State Security Committee deputy chairman,
Vasily Dementey as reported in the attached Interfax report dated
October 27. The Unites State Government finds the comments of this
representative of Belarusian security services to deputies of the
Belarusian parliament highly offensive, false and provocative. The
United States is not seeking and has never sought the
destabilization of Belarus by any means let alone "up to the point
of intervention," as the BKGB deputy chairman allegedly said.
The United States wishes to protest these comments and request
clarification from the Ministry whether they represent the views of
the government of Belarus. Such statements by a Belarusian
official would only further the destructive course the government
of Belarus is taking toward relations with the United States and
the other nations mentioned in the referenced press statements.
Moreover, these statements negatively influence Belarusian
society's attitude toward the United States and these other
countries, who only desire Belarus to become a democratic,
peaceful, prosperous country enjoying the best of relations with
its neighbors and the broader world community. The United States
has always, and continues to, respect the independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Belarus.
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of the
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assurances
of its highest consideration.
End text.
4. Begin text of letter from Ambassador to Foreign Minister
Martynov (translated from Belarusian):
Embassy of the United State of America
Minsk, October 28, 2005
I am attaching a copy of the article published in the state
newspaper Gomelskaya Pravda last month. I believe it is worthy of
your attention, being a typical example of the creative work by the
Belarusian state mass media. These articles, along with a number
of other recent newspaper publications and TV reports, caused a
feeling of disgust in my colleagues and myself. The article
describes normal activities carried out by diplomatic missions in
every country, activities that are aimed at getting to know a
country better and establishing contacts with a broad range of
Belarusians, activities that the Belarusian leadership and you in
particular have always encouraged us to do, as "cover."
It seems to me that such publications insult the Belarusian people
in the first place, who, to my understanding, as taxpayers provide
funding for most of the Belarusian media.
The hysteric and groundless anti-American rhetoric of the article
almost surpasses the propaganda of the USSR during the Cold War. I
am convinced that the authors, editors and curators of the
Belarusian state media are well aware than the Cold War is over.
However, they for some reason think it possible to convey exactly
the opposite idea to well-educated Belarusian people. To my mind,
the article in question is intended to intimidate Belarusians and
prevent them from any contact with American diplomats.
I deem it necessary to once again dismiss any allegations made by
the Belarusian leadership that the American government and American
press has conducted a virulently anti-Belarusian campaign.
It is hard to see that such crude, self-destructive approaches by
the Belarusian authorities are aimed at anything else but self-
isolation. It is unfortunate that this is happening in light of
your constant affirmations to seek normal relations with the
American people and government.
End text.
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI BO
SUBJECT: GOB: "We're Peaceful, Friendly"
REF: MINSK 1384
1. Summary and comment: In recent weeks Belarusian state owned
television has aired several hostile and tendentious "news"
programs accusing U.S. diplomats of espionage, orchestrating the
political opposition, and trying to destabilize Belarus. State
owned newspapers have carried similar stories (reftel). GOB
officials have also publicly accused the United States of
conducting a "propaganda war" and of trying to overthrow the
Belarusian government. These acts are clearly Belarusian
propaganda aimed at manipulating the upcoming presidential
elections. The Embassy formally complained about such vitriolic
and irresponsible statements in a letter from the Ambassador to the
Foreign Minister and in a diplomatic note. The GOB replied in a
diplomatic note that Belarus is a "peaceful" state seeking
"friendly" relations with everyone. However, the note regrets the
"systematic highly offensive, false and provocative allegations and
actions of the U.S. highest officials toward Belarus [sic]." End
summary and comment.
2. Begin text of Belarusian response (presented in English):
Note No. 12-06/25650-H
Minsk, 11 November 2005
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in
the Republic of Belarus and referring to H.E. Ambassador George
Krol's letter dated 27 October 2005 and Embassy's Note N 316/05
dated 28 October 2005 has the honor to inform the Embassy that the
Republic of Belarus is conducting a peaceful foreign policy aimed
at forming and developing in-depth friendly relations with all
states ready for equal and mutually respectful dialogue.
During the meeting of the Security Council of the Republic of
Belarus on 30 September 2005 the President of the Republic of
Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated that there is no direct
security threat to Belarus. Not giving up its national interest in
the sphere of security the Republic of Belarus is striving for
partnership relations with all countries, international
organizations and alliances without any exclusion.
The republic of Belarus rejects information wars as a tool to
achieve foreign policy goals. We note with regret that systematic
highly offensive, false and provocative allegations and actions of
the U.S. highest officials toward Belarus and its leadership do not
contribute to creation of confidence and productive bilateral co-
operation between Belarus and the United States on these
principles.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity
to renew to the Embassy of the United States of American in the
Republic of Belarus the assurances of its high consideration.
End text.
3. Begin text of U.S. diplomatic note of October 28:
No. 316/05
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Belarus and has the honor to draw the Ministry's attention to the
statements of Belarusian State Security Committee deputy chairman,
Vasily Dementey as reported in the attached Interfax report dated
October 27. The Unites State Government finds the comments of this
representative of Belarusian security services to deputies of the
Belarusian parliament highly offensive, false and provocative. The
United States is not seeking and has never sought the
destabilization of Belarus by any means let alone "up to the point
of intervention," as the BKGB deputy chairman allegedly said.
The United States wishes to protest these comments and request
clarification from the Ministry whether they represent the views of
the government of Belarus. Such statements by a Belarusian
official would only further the destructive course the government
of Belarus is taking toward relations with the United States and
the other nations mentioned in the referenced press statements.
Moreover, these statements negatively influence Belarusian
society's attitude toward the United States and these other
countries, who only desire Belarus to become a democratic,
peaceful, prosperous country enjoying the best of relations with
its neighbors and the broader world community. The United States
has always, and continues to, respect the independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Belarus.
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of the
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assurances
of its highest consideration.
End text.
4. Begin text of letter from Ambassador to Foreign Minister
Martynov (translated from Belarusian):
Embassy of the United State of America
Minsk, October 28, 2005
I am attaching a copy of the article published in the state
newspaper Gomelskaya Pravda last month. I believe it is worthy of
your attention, being a typical example of the creative work by the
Belarusian state mass media. These articles, along with a number
of other recent newspaper publications and TV reports, caused a
feeling of disgust in my colleagues and myself. The article
describes normal activities carried out by diplomatic missions in
every country, activities that are aimed at getting to know a
country better and establishing contacts with a broad range of
Belarusians, activities that the Belarusian leadership and you in
particular have always encouraged us to do, as "cover."
It seems to me that such publications insult the Belarusian people
in the first place, who, to my understanding, as taxpayers provide
funding for most of the Belarusian media.
The hysteric and groundless anti-American rhetoric of the article
almost surpasses the propaganda of the USSR during the Cold War. I
am convinced that the authors, editors and curators of the
Belarusian state media are well aware than the Cold War is over.
However, they for some reason think it possible to convey exactly
the opposite idea to well-educated Belarusian people. To my mind,
the article in question is intended to intimidate Belarusians and
prevent them from any contact with American diplomats.
I deem it necessary to once again dismiss any allegations made by
the Belarusian leadership that the American government and American
press has conducted a virulently anti-Belarusian campaign.
It is hard to see that such crude, self-destructive approaches by
the Belarusian authorities are aimed at anything else but self-
isolation. It is unfortunate that this is happening in light of
your constant affirmations to seek normal relations with the
American people and government.
End text.
KROL