Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK876
2006-08-11 15:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

MFA BAITS AND SWITCHES ON COORDINATED U.S.-EU

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL BO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHSK #0876/01 2231546
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111546Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4912
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1253
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000876 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BO
SUBJECT: MFA BAITS AND SWITCHES ON COORDINATED U.S.-EU
DEMARCHE

REF: SECSTATE 123489

Classified By Charge Dereck Hogan for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000876

SIPDIS

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BO
SUBJECT: MFA BAITS AND SWITCHES ON COORDINATED U.S.-EU
DEMARCHE

REF: SECSTATE 123489

Classified By Charge Dereck Hogan for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: On August 11, Charge delivered the
coordinated U.S.-EU demarche to MFA Counselor on the U.S.
and Canada Desk Pavel Pustovoy regarding the imprisonment
of former opposition presidential candidate Aleksandr
Kozulin and four leaders of the independent election
monitoring NGO "Partnership" (reftel). Charge informed
Pustovoy that the United States and European Union regard
the convictions as politically motivated and called for
their immediate release. Pustovoy rejected the U.S.
position but invited the United States to continue dialogue
with Belarus. U.S. and Canada Section Head Sergey
Sergeyev's decision to renege on his commitment to speak
with Charge and to send a relatively low-level counselor in
his stead underlines the GOB's lack of interest in any
sincere dialogue. End Summary.

MFS Pulls A Bait-n-Switch
--------------


2. (C) MFA U.S. and Canadian Affairs Head Sergey Sergeyev
agreed on August 10 he would meet receive Charge on August
11, but when Charge arrived at the MFA, Sergeyev's deputy
and counselor in U.S. and Canada Affairs section Pavel
Pustovoy explained he would conduct the meeting. Charge
told him the last-minute switch appeared to be another move
by the GOB to avoid hearing U.S.-EU concerns on the state
of human rights and democracy in Belarus. Charge added
that the MFA European Affairs head had previously agreed to
meet with the German ambassador, in behalf of the Finnish
EU presidency, on August 11, but the MFA later responded
that the German ambassador could only be received by a
department head deputy. (Note: The German ambassador
refused to deliver the demarche under such circumstances
and hopes to be received by the European Affairs Department
head on August 15. End Note.)


3. (C) Recalling that the U.S. and German embassies
originally requested to deliver a joint demarche at the
level of deputy foreign minister, Charge stressed to
Pustovoy that the U.S. and EU considered it extremely
important to raise with senior officials in the MFA our
concerns about the state of human rights in Belarus. He
continued that the U.S. and EU remain disappointed with GOB

efforts to postpone, prevent, or thwart our message.
Pustovoy acknowledged Charge's concerns about his office's
handling of our demarche request and agreed to pass our
message to the highest levels of the MFA.

Demarche Points Delivered
--------------


4. (C) Charge stressed that the United States and European
Union remained deeply concerned over the continuing
deterioration of democracy, human rights and political
freedom in Belarus, citing the harsh sentencing of former
opposition candidate Kozulin and the four Partnership NGO
activists as the most recent examples. Noting that the
sentencing of these peaceful activists only demonstrates
the Belarusian authorities' unwillingness to respect
international standards, Charge urged the GOB to deviate
from its present course and immediately release all
political prisoners.


5. (C) Concerning the sentencing of the Partnership
activists, Charge reminded Pustovoy that EUR DAS David
Kramer and Ambassador Krol in December raised with a senior
MFA official U.S. and EU concerns over the recently
introduced criminal code amendments, which stiffened
sentences for activities deemed to be "destabilizing."
Kramer was told the USG should refrain from criticism until
it observes how the GOB implements the criminal code
amendments. Charge emphasized that the Partnership
activists' imprisonment under the amended criminal code
clearly justified U.S. and EU concerns.


6. (C) Charge added that the U.S. Embassy recently
delivered a diplomatic note requesting U.S. diplomats be
granted access to Kozulin and asked Pustovoy for a status
on the diplomatic note. Pustovoy confirmed that the MFA
received the diplomatic note and stated that the
authorities would consider the request.


MINSK 00000876 002 OF 002


GOB Exonerates Itself
--------------


7. (C) Pustovoy blamed Kozulin and his supporters for
provoking violence at the March 25 demonstration and noted
that former opposition presidential candidate Aleksandr
Milinkevich criticized Kozulin's leading of the
demonstration. Charge replied that the GOB had a greater
responsibility to prevent violence and noted that
Milinkevich has strongly condemned the GOB's treatment of
Kozulin.


8. (C) When Pustovoy asserted that the U.S. and EU should
judge Belarusian authorities' treatment of political
activists by a single standard, Charge countered that
Belarus has yet to conform to universal human rights
standards as recognized by the UN, OSCE, and other
international organizations. Pustovoy expressed sympathy
with some of Charge's arguments, but stressed the USG and
GOB positions remain fundamentally at odds. He articulated
hope that the dialogue between the United States and
Belarus would continue.


9. (C) Comment: The MFA's decisions to send a back
bencher to receive the Charge's demarche and to snub the
German ambassador confirms that the Lukashenko regime has
little interest in establishing an earnest dialogue with
the West regarding human rights and democratic reform.

HOGAN