CANADA TAKES ECONOMIC ACTION AGAINST BELARUS

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003632 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAN, EB/IFD AND EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL PHUM CA BO SUBJECT: CANADA TAKES ECONOMIC ACTION AGAINST BELARUS ¶1. (U) On December 18, Foreign Minister MacKay and International Trade Minister Emerson announced that Canada is taking new measures against Belarus by limiting Canadian exports to that country. "Canada remains very concerned that Belarus continues to ignore international appeals to restore democracy," said the Foreign Minister. "From a flawed election to the continued imprisonment of democratic supporters, Belarus persists in its flagrant abuse of human rights and the rule of law. Canada and the international community must keep pressure on Belarus to improve conditions for its people." Minister Emerson said that "it is Canada's hope that economic pressure in the form of export restrictions will help bring about positive change in Belarus." ¶2. (U) Adding Belarus to the Area Control List means that all exports from Canada to Belarus require an export permit issued under the authority of the Export and Import Permits Act. Canada announced its intention to consider this action in July and took into account the views of affected parties during the consultation period. All applications for permits to export items to Belarus will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Permits for humanitarian items-- including food, clothing, medicine, medical supplies, information material, casual gifts and personal effects of persons going to Belarus from Canada -- will generally be approved Permits for other items will generally be denied. ¶3. (U) Comment: Given the low level of Canadian exports to Belarus, this measure is largely symbolic. As was the case when the GoC refused in April to grant landing and refueling privileges to a plane carrying Belarus Prime Minister Sidorsky, this latest step is calculated to demonstrate Canada's concern over the human rights situation in Belarus. End comment. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa DICKSON