Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK964
2006-09-05 12:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
CHARGE'S PRESS CONFERENCE ELICITS INTEREST OF
how-toVZCZCXRO1904 PP RUEHAST DE RUEHSK #0964/01 2481252 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051252Z SEP 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5041 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000964
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO
SUBJECT: CHARGE'S PRESS CONFERENCE ELICITS INTEREST OF
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, GOB COMPLAINTS
MINSK 00000964 001.4 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000964
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO
SUBJECT: CHARGE'S PRESS CONFERENCE ELICITS INTEREST OF
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, GOB COMPLAINTS
MINSK 00000964 001.4 OF 002
1. (U) On August 31, Charge hosted a press conference with
members of the Belarusian independent media and local
representatives of various international media outlets. After
delivering a brief opening statement, Charge and journalists
engaged in a spirited hour-long question-and-answer session on a
wide range of issues. See para 3 for the text of the opening
statement. [Note: The full transcript of the press conference
will be sent separately to EUR/UMB when available. End note.]
2. (SBU) In quick response to the press conference, MFA U.S.
Affairs head Sergey Sergeyev called in Charge on September 5 to
hand-deliver a diplomatic note on the GOB's deep concern with
the "disrespectful and unfriendly nature" of Charge's recent
statements. See para 4 for an unofficial translation of the
diplomatic note. [Comment: Sergeyev restricted his oral remarks
to the points raised in the diplomatic note and, as usual,
conveyed the clear impression he was only "delivering the mail."
End comment.]
3. (SBU) Charge assured Sergeyev he would share the GOB's
concerns with the Department, noting that his calls for the
immediate release of all political prisoners closely adhere to
U.S. policy, including the Department's press statement of
August 4. Sergeyev asked Charge to reconcile his statements on
the unlikelihood of U.S. sanctions applied against Belarus and
the provisions of the latest draft version of the Belarus
Democracy Reauthorization Act (BDRA). Charge explained that the
State Department has not yet formally reviewed the draft
legislation. He added that there are no current plans to
introduce economic sanctions. However, Charge encouraged
Sergeyev to focus more on the clear sentiment underlying the
BDRA, which is growing frustration with the GOB on the continued
deterioration of democratic freedoms in Belarus.
Press Conference Statement
--------------
4. (U) Charge d'Affaires Jonathan Moore held a roundtable
August 31 at the American Center in Minsk with members of
Belarusian independent media and local representatives of
various international media outlets. In an hour-long question-
and-answer session, Mr. Moore addressed issues spanning from the
upcoming municipal elections in Belarus to private American
investment in Belarus. The Charge delivered an opening
statement prior to the roundtable. The statement is quoted in
full below:
"Thank you for joining us today. My colleagues and I look
forward to answering your questions and having an open, on-the-
record discussion.
I arrived in Minsk on July 25 as Deputy Chief of Mission, and
have been Charge d'Affaires since August 1. I am pleased to
note that Ambassador Karen Stewart plans to arrive in Minsk on
September 18, and our dialogue with the independent media will
continue under her leadership.
It is no secret that our relations with Belarus are difficult.
The United States has no desire to isolate the people of
Belarus. However, we cannot support the policies of the current
regime, including persistent disrespect for international
standards of democracy and human rights. Belarusians have every
right to the same freedoms and opportunities found elsewhere in
Europe. In Belarus, persons who have raised legitimate concerns
about the nature of the regime over the past twelve years have
lost their jobs, their freedom, and their lives. Democracy is
not a perfect process; Americans know that very well. Many of
our country's citizens were denied basic rights and freedoms for
much of our history. But recognizing that fact about ourselves
helps us recognize that fact about others.
The United States continues to call upon the regime to release
all political prisoners unconditionally. In that regard, I
would like to note that our requests for access to Aleksandr
Kozulin, Nikolay Astreiko, and Timofey Dranchuk remain
unapproved. On August 30, I visited the Volodarskiy jail to see
them, and was told that permission had not been granted. We
will continue to seek access to them.
In free countries, the people and the media control the state.
It is the opinion of my government that in Belarus the opposite
is true. You, as members of the independent media, have an
essential role in objectively informing the people of Belarus
about themselves, their government, and the freedoms that have
been denied them. Thank you again for being here with us today.
I welcome your questions."
MINSK 00000964 002.2 OF 002
Diplomatic Note
--------------
5. (U) Begin Text:
(Complimentary opening)
During the press conference on August 31, 2006, Charge
d'Affaires a.i. of the United States Jonathan Moore made a
number of unfounded and unacceptable remarks and allegations in
regard to the leadership and people of Belarus.
The statement of the Charge d'Affaires is in obvious disaccord
with the support for the course of the country's leadership the
majority of Belarusians demonstrated at the presidential
election on March 19, 2006.
The ultimatums he put forward not only run contrary to reality
but constitute an attempt at intervening in the internal affairs
of Belarus and manifest disrespect toward the law of the host
country.
In addition, the allegations voiced in relation to the hot air
balloon incident in Belarusian airspace bear evidence of either
lack of information or purposeful distortion by the Charge
d'Affaires of the conclusions made by the international
commission that investigated the incident in question.
Such statements are of openly expressed disrespectful and
unfriendly nature, and do not contribute to the establishment of
trust between the United States of America and the Republic of
Belarus.
The Ministry wishes to bring to the attention of the American
side the fact that it is unacceptable for diplomatic agents
accredited in the Republic of Belarus to make such remarks, and
calls on the American side to base the relations between our
countries exclusively on the principles of mutual respect.
(Complimentary closing)
End Text.
Moore
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO
SUBJECT: CHARGE'S PRESS CONFERENCE ELICITS INTEREST OF
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, GOB COMPLAINTS
MINSK 00000964 001.4 OF 002
1. (U) On August 31, Charge hosted a press conference with
members of the Belarusian independent media and local
representatives of various international media outlets. After
delivering a brief opening statement, Charge and journalists
engaged in a spirited hour-long question-and-answer session on a
wide range of issues. See para 3 for the text of the opening
statement. [Note: The full transcript of the press conference
will be sent separately to EUR/UMB when available. End note.]
2. (SBU) In quick response to the press conference, MFA U.S.
Affairs head Sergey Sergeyev called in Charge on September 5 to
hand-deliver a diplomatic note on the GOB's deep concern with
the "disrespectful and unfriendly nature" of Charge's recent
statements. See para 4 for an unofficial translation of the
diplomatic note. [Comment: Sergeyev restricted his oral remarks
to the points raised in the diplomatic note and, as usual,
conveyed the clear impression he was only "delivering the mail."
End comment.]
3. (SBU) Charge assured Sergeyev he would share the GOB's
concerns with the Department, noting that his calls for the
immediate release of all political prisoners closely adhere to
U.S. policy, including the Department's press statement of
August 4. Sergeyev asked Charge to reconcile his statements on
the unlikelihood of U.S. sanctions applied against Belarus and
the provisions of the latest draft version of the Belarus
Democracy Reauthorization Act (BDRA). Charge explained that the
State Department has not yet formally reviewed the draft
legislation. He added that there are no current plans to
introduce economic sanctions. However, Charge encouraged
Sergeyev to focus more on the clear sentiment underlying the
BDRA, which is growing frustration with the GOB on the continued
deterioration of democratic freedoms in Belarus.
Press Conference Statement
--------------
4. (U) Charge d'Affaires Jonathan Moore held a roundtable
August 31 at the American Center in Minsk with members of
Belarusian independent media and local representatives of
various international media outlets. In an hour-long question-
and-answer session, Mr. Moore addressed issues spanning from the
upcoming municipal elections in Belarus to private American
investment in Belarus. The Charge delivered an opening
statement prior to the roundtable. The statement is quoted in
full below:
"Thank you for joining us today. My colleagues and I look
forward to answering your questions and having an open, on-the-
record discussion.
I arrived in Minsk on July 25 as Deputy Chief of Mission, and
have been Charge d'Affaires since August 1. I am pleased to
note that Ambassador Karen Stewart plans to arrive in Minsk on
September 18, and our dialogue with the independent media will
continue under her leadership.
It is no secret that our relations with Belarus are difficult.
The United States has no desire to isolate the people of
Belarus. However, we cannot support the policies of the current
regime, including persistent disrespect for international
standards of democracy and human rights. Belarusians have every
right to the same freedoms and opportunities found elsewhere in
Europe. In Belarus, persons who have raised legitimate concerns
about the nature of the regime over the past twelve years have
lost their jobs, their freedom, and their lives. Democracy is
not a perfect process; Americans know that very well. Many of
our country's citizens were denied basic rights and freedoms for
much of our history. But recognizing that fact about ourselves
helps us recognize that fact about others.
The United States continues to call upon the regime to release
all political prisoners unconditionally. In that regard, I
would like to note that our requests for access to Aleksandr
Kozulin, Nikolay Astreiko, and Timofey Dranchuk remain
unapproved. On August 30, I visited the Volodarskiy jail to see
them, and was told that permission had not been granted. We
will continue to seek access to them.
In free countries, the people and the media control the state.
It is the opinion of my government that in Belarus the opposite
is true. You, as members of the independent media, have an
essential role in objectively informing the people of Belarus
about themselves, their government, and the freedoms that have
been denied them. Thank you again for being here with us today.
I welcome your questions."
MINSK 00000964 002.2 OF 002
Diplomatic Note
--------------
5. (U) Begin Text:
(Complimentary opening)
During the press conference on August 31, 2006, Charge
d'Affaires a.i. of the United States Jonathan Moore made a
number of unfounded and unacceptable remarks and allegations in
regard to the leadership and people of Belarus.
The statement of the Charge d'Affaires is in obvious disaccord
with the support for the course of the country's leadership the
majority of Belarusians demonstrated at the presidential
election on March 19, 2006.
The ultimatums he put forward not only run contrary to reality
but constitute an attempt at intervening in the internal affairs
of Belarus and manifest disrespect toward the law of the host
country.
In addition, the allegations voiced in relation to the hot air
balloon incident in Belarusian airspace bear evidence of either
lack of information or purposeful distortion by the Charge
d'Affaires of the conclusions made by the international
commission that investigated the incident in question.
Such statements are of openly expressed disrespectful and
unfriendly nature, and do not contribute to the establishment of
trust between the United States of America and the Republic of
Belarus.
The Ministry wishes to bring to the attention of the American
side the fact that it is unacceptable for diplomatic agents
accredited in the Republic of Belarus to make such remarks, and
calls on the American side to base the relations between our
countries exclusively on the principles of mutual respect.
(Complimentary closing)
End Text.
Moore