Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BERN688
2006-03-29 15:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bern
Cable title:
BELARUS: SWITZERLAND WEIGHS VISA BAN, TARGETED
how-toVZCZCXRO5895 RR RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSW #0688 0881524 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 291524Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BERN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1966 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0073 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2491
UNCLAS BERN 000688
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/AGS, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL EU BL SZ
SUBJECT: BELARUS: SWITZERLAND WEIGHS VISA BAN, TARGETED
SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 46172
UNCLAS BERN 000688
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/AGS, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL EU BL SZ
SUBJECT: BELARUS: SWITZERLAND WEIGHS VISA BAN, TARGETED
SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 46172
1.(SBU) Summary: The Swiss government has criticized the
elections in Belarus and called upon authorities to
immediately release persons arrested during the
demonstrations following the vote. Switzerland has also
warned that it would consider targeted sanctions and entry
bans for leading Belarus officials. Bern has no specific
timetable for a decision on actions against Belarus,
according to an Embassy contact, who added that, as a
practical matter, the Swiss will move in consort with the EU.
End summary.
2.(SBU) The Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on
March 27 released a press release calling on Belarus
authorities to immediately release those people arrested
after peaceful demonstrations following the March 19
elections. The release singles out Aleksander Kozulin for
individual mention. The press release also reiterated
regrets about the elections, which "did not meet recognized
international standards for free and fair elections."
3.(SBU) Most notably, the March 27 press release warns
Belarus of the possibility of sanctions and an entry ban.
"If the political situation does not improve rapidly and
durably, Switzerland will consider the possibility of
targeted sanctions against Belarus. It could also impose
entry bans on leading Belarus officials."
4.(SBU) According to Norbert Baerlocher of the DFA's Human
Rights Office, there is no timetable for considering these
sanction measures. He confided that there was considerable
uncertainty whether targeted sanctions or entry bans would
have any meaningful impact on President Lukashenko. Asked by
Poloff whether Switzerland would follow the lead of the EU,
Baerlocher asserted that Bern did not want to be seen as
following the EU. For example, Switzerland had been the
first European country to enact measures against Uzbekistan
following its 2004 elections. However, as a practical
matter, Baerlocher agreed that Switzerland would likely work
in consort with the EU on possible measures.
Willeford
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/AGS, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL EU BL SZ
SUBJECT: BELARUS: SWITZERLAND WEIGHS VISA BAN, TARGETED
SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 46172
1.(SBU) Summary: The Swiss government has criticized the
elections in Belarus and called upon authorities to
immediately release persons arrested during the
demonstrations following the vote. Switzerland has also
warned that it would consider targeted sanctions and entry
bans for leading Belarus officials. Bern has no specific
timetable for a decision on actions against Belarus,
according to an Embassy contact, who added that, as a
practical matter, the Swiss will move in consort with the EU.
End summary.
2.(SBU) The Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on
March 27 released a press release calling on Belarus
authorities to immediately release those people arrested
after peaceful demonstrations following the March 19
elections. The release singles out Aleksander Kozulin for
individual mention. The press release also reiterated
regrets about the elections, which "did not meet recognized
international standards for free and fair elections."
3.(SBU) Most notably, the March 27 press release warns
Belarus of the possibility of sanctions and an entry ban.
"If the political situation does not improve rapidly and
durably, Switzerland will consider the possibility of
targeted sanctions against Belarus. It could also impose
entry bans on leading Belarus officials."
4.(SBU) According to Norbert Baerlocher of the DFA's Human
Rights Office, there is no timetable for considering these
sanction measures. He confided that there was considerable
uncertainty whether targeted sanctions or entry bans would
have any meaningful impact on President Lukashenko. Asked by
Poloff whether Switzerland would follow the lead of the EU,
Baerlocher asserted that Bern did not want to be seen as
following the EU. For example, Switzerland had been the
first European country to enact measures against Uzbekistan
following its 2004 elections. However, as a practical
matter, Baerlocher agreed that Switzerland would likely work
in consort with the EU on possible measures.
Willeford