MFA MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR-DRUMS UP GOB OUTCRY OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000680

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BO
SUBJECT: MFA MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR-DRUMS UP GOB OUTCRY OVER
U.S VISA BAN AND FINANCIAL SANCTIONS


Classified By: AMBASSADOR GEORGE KROL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: On June 23, Head of the MFA's U.S. and Canada
Desk Sergey Sergeyev formally relayed GOB irritation with the
U.S. imposition of visa bans and financial sanctions against
GOB officials. Ambassador reiterated the USG had long warned
the GOB the U.S. would take such actions against GOB
officials who repress the rights of Belarusian citizens.
Ambassador further warned the U.S. would consider extending
these sanctions to more officials who violate the rights of
their fellow citizens. End Summary.


2. (C) On June 23, Sergey Sergeyev, Head of the U.S. and
Canada Desk at the MFA, called in Ambassador to discuss the
USG's implementation of visa bans and financial sanctions
against GOB officials. Counselor of the U.S. and Canada Desk
Andrei Rzheussky and Poloff attended as note takers. Before
conveying the GOB talking points, Sergeyev complimented
Ambassador for his warm speech he gave during the April 27
CitiHope humanitarian assistance event.

MFA: U.S. Violating GOB Officials' Civil Rights
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3. (C) Sergeyev relayed the GOB's negative reaction to U.S.
pressure on Belarus, particularly the imposition of visa bans
and financial sanctions on Belarusian officials and the
references to Belarus in the recent June 21 U.S.-EU Vienna
summit statement. The GOB views these measures as
ineffective, politically-motivated acts that violate the
civil rights of those on the visa-ban and asset freeze list.
Sergeyev continued that the U.S. actions were
counterproductive to promoting Belarus' democratic
development and only worsened the U.S.-Belarus relationship.
He asserted Belarus was ready for a constructive dialogue
with the U.S., but on equal terms without pressure.
Paraphrasing a recent Lukashenko statement, Sergeyev claimed
that for every step the U.S. makes toward improving the
relationship with Belarus, the GOB would make two or three
steps. Sergeyev concluded by asking Ambassador to explain
why the U.S. considers the 10 persons on the asset freeze
list "threats" to U.S. national security, requiring th
e announcement of a state of national emergency.


4. (C) Ambassador noted the USG does not take joy in imposing
financial sanctions and visa bans against Belarusian
officials, but the U.S. had long warned the GOB such measures
would be taken against those most responsible and involved in
repression against Belarusian citizens. EUR DAS Kramer had
made this quite clear during his last visit to Minsk and the
Ambassador himself had stated the same in all his meetings
with Belarusian officials. These measures did not
materialize out of thin air or out of a desire to worsen
relations with Belarus. They are responses to concrete
actions taken by the Belarusian leadership against Belarusian
citizens in violation of the Belarusian constitution and
Belarus' obligations as a member of the OSCE and a signatory
of the UN Charter on Human Rights. The U.S. and the EU view
the falsified elections, the unwarranted detentions of
citizens, the unfair justice system and repeated violations
of the constitutional rights of Belarusians as steps the
Belarusian leadership has co
nsciously undertaken to repress its citizens. These actions
have led to Belarus' worsened relations with the U.S. and EU.
Ambassador warned that if the GOB continues its repressive
actions, more unpleasant responses would follow. If Belarus
really wants better relations with the U.S. and EU, the
repression needed to stop.

MFA: U.S. A Threat To World Stability?
--------------


5. (C) Sergeyev asked Ambassador to comment on press reports
that a journalist told President Bush during the June 21
U.S.-EU Summit in Vienna that the U.S. is the greatest threat
to world stability. Ambassador replied as President Bush had
done, calling the statement "absurd." The U.S. supports
stability based on democracy and respect for citizens'
rights. Repression and inequality creates instability. The
U.S. sees no difference among countries and cultures in this
regard.

MFA: Economic Stability A Human Right

--------------


6. (C) Responding to Ambassador's comment on stability,
Sergeyev noted Belarusians enjoy a comfortable life with
adequate social welfare and economic stability. When the
U.S. speaks of human rights, it needs to keep in mind that
maintaining a stable, comfortable lifestyle is an important
human right. Ambassador agreed that economic stability was
important, but noted that it was inexcusable that Belarusian
citizens, even if living in conditions of economic stability,
should be frightened or intimidated to express their opinions
freely. Ambassador noted opposition leaders are just as much
Belarusian patriots as Lukashenko, yet are portrayed as
terrorists and/or American pawns and prevented from meeting
with constituents or carrying out normal political
activities. Ambassador maintained that Belarusians are a
talented, industrious and tolerant people who would know how
to run their country well without repression or a strong-hand
to keep them in line.

The Future Of Student Exchanges
--------------


7. (C) Sergeyev mentioned a recent visit of students from
Illinois to Belarus and hoped such visits could continue.
Ambassador used this opening to note the curt response he
received from the Ministry of Education curtailing the
long-standing FLEX high-school exchange program, claiming the
program does not comply with Belarusian law.


8. (C) Ambassador questioned the sincerity of the GOB claim
that it is interested in continuing exchanges and noted that
the letter from the Ministry of Education did not outline
steps the U.S. could take to meet GOB requirements.
Ambassador explained the U.S. was open to serious discussions
with the GOB over exchanges but it would be up to the
Belarusian side to want exchanges.

GOB Pleased With TIP Report, Seeks Questions to FinCin
Guidelines
-------------- --------------


9. (C) Sergeyev handed over answers to questions submitted by
the Embassy, via dipnote, in early April for the Religious
Freedom Report and expressed the GOB's positive reaction to
the U.S.'s 2005 TIP report. He hoped the U.S. and Belarus
would continue the mutual cooperation to battle TIP. He also
gave Ambassador a list of questions the MFA had on the
implementation of U.S. Treasury FinCin guidelines on banking.
The MFA wanted the Embassy to answer these questions because
Belarus had encountered problems on money transactions
involving U.S. banks processing EBRD funding for
Chernobyl-related programs.


10. (C) Sergeyev thanked Ambassador for his position and for
the Embassy's professional relationship with the MFA, but
commented there was much room for improvement in
U.S.-Belarusian relations. Perhaps hoping to end on a more
positive note, Sergeyev presented Ambassador with invitations
to a basketball match to be held in Minsk on June 24 between
former NBA "stars" and the Belarusian national basketball
team, organized under the aegis of Lukashenko's American
friend and purported religious advisor Michael Margulies.
Krol