Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK738
2007-08-28 12:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
GOB DISPUTES U/S BURNS' STATEMENTS ON BELARUSIAN
how-toVZCZCXRO2040 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0738 2401218 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 281218Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6427 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1654 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 MINSK 000738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL ETTC BO IR
SUBJECT: GOB DISPUTES U/S BURNS' STATEMENTS ON BELARUSIAN
SUPPORT FOR IRAN
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL ETTC BO IR
SUBJECT: GOB DISPUTES U/S BURNS' STATEMENTS ON BELARUSIAN
SUPPORT FOR IRAN
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) On August 28, Director of the MFA's North AMERICA
office Sergey Sergeyev, accompanied by Counselor Andrey
Rzheuskiy, presented to Charge and Acting Pol/Econ Chief the
GOB's official reaction to Under Secretary Burns'
characterization during a August21 Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty interview of Belarus as part of a "gang of four"
states supporting Iran in international fora. Sergeyev said
Burns' statements "do not reflect reality" and called the
Under Secretary's tone insulting. Sergeyev argued that
Belarus, as a country that renounced nuclear weapons,
supported all non-proliferation treaties. Moreover, Belarus
acts in accordance with UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 and has
documented its compliance to the UN, according to Sergeyev.
Sergeyev also repeated the GOB's desire to join the Zangger
Committee.
2. (C) Charge dismissed Sergeyev's criticism, noting the
troubling nature of Belarusian cooperation with and support
for Iran, including a growing number of bilateral visits and
projects. Charge also commented that it was strange to see a
country that had suffered so terribly from the Holocaust
closely associating itself with a foreign leader who denied
that the Holocaust had occurred. Sergeyev made no comment,
and quickly turned the meeting to other topics.
Moore
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL ETTC BO IR
SUBJECT: GOB DISPUTES U/S BURNS' STATEMENTS ON BELARUSIAN
SUPPORT FOR IRAN
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) On August 28, Director of the MFA's North AMERICA
office Sergey Sergeyev, accompanied by Counselor Andrey
Rzheuskiy, presented to Charge and Acting Pol/Econ Chief the
GOB's official reaction to Under Secretary Burns'
characterization during a August21 Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty interview of Belarus as part of a "gang of four"
states supporting Iran in international fora. Sergeyev said
Burns' statements "do not reflect reality" and called the
Under Secretary's tone insulting. Sergeyev argued that
Belarus, as a country that renounced nuclear weapons,
supported all non-proliferation treaties. Moreover, Belarus
acts in accordance with UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 and has
documented its compliance to the UN, according to Sergeyev.
Sergeyev also repeated the GOB's desire to join the Zangger
Committee.
2. (C) Charge dismissed Sergeyev's criticism, noting the
troubling nature of Belarusian cooperation with and support
for Iran, including a growing number of bilateral visits and
projects. Charge also commented that it was strange to see a
country that had suffered so terribly from the Holocaust
closely associating itself with a foreign leader who denied
that the Holocaust had occurred. Sergeyev made no comment,
and quickly turned the meeting to other topics.
Moore