Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE25582
2008-03-11 22:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO BELARUS
how-toVZCZCXRO2035 PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #5582 0712224 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 112220Z MAR 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 8540 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 025582
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL OSCE BO
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO BELARUS
STATEMENT REGARDING U.S. SANCTIONS
Post is authorized to present the following statement at the
March 13 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.
Begin text:
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to comment on the March 11 statement issued by
the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the U.S.
Department of the Treasury's Guidance on the Blocking of
Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes
or Institutions in Belarus. Belarus asserted that the United
States had in some way breached the commitments it undertook
in the Helsinki Final Act by adding the Belneftekhim
petrochemical company to the Treasury Department,s list of
Specially Designated Nationals. We are particularly baffled
by the charge that our action is designed to further some
illegitimate interest or infringe upon the sovereignty of the
government of Belarus. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Our actions are fully consistent with our OSCE
obligations and commitments and are taken in support of the
Belarusian people. As we all declared and agreed in Moscow
in 1991, &commitments undertaken in the human dimension of
the OSCE are matters of direct and legitimate concern of all
participating States and do not belong exclusively to the
internal affairs of the State concerned.8
The U.S. has consistently and repeatedly informed the
authorities in Belarus that we will continue to take actions
against officials responsible for human rights abuses as well
as against entities owned or controlled by such persons.
Our aim is to target only those who are involved in
widespread human rights abuses; these sanctions are not
targeted at the Belarusian people. Indeed, we are trying to
help the people of Belarus exercise basic inalienable
freedoms. We note many other OSCE participating States
similarly sanction those responsible for abuses in Belarus.
Belarus has expressed its desire for improved relations with
the United States. This is the path that we also prefer, and
we have made clear our readiness to engage in a dialogue with
Belarus on steps to improve our relations once all the
political prisoners are free. We again urge the Belarusian
authorities to release Aleksandr Kozulin to facilitate a
dialogue on improved relations.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
End text.
RICE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL OSCE BO
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO BELARUS
STATEMENT REGARDING U.S. SANCTIONS
Post is authorized to present the following statement at the
March 13 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.
Begin text:
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to comment on the March 11 statement issued by
the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the U.S.
Department of the Treasury's Guidance on the Blocking of
Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes
or Institutions in Belarus. Belarus asserted that the United
States had in some way breached the commitments it undertook
in the Helsinki Final Act by adding the Belneftekhim
petrochemical company to the Treasury Department,s list of
Specially Designated Nationals. We are particularly baffled
by the charge that our action is designed to further some
illegitimate interest or infringe upon the sovereignty of the
government of Belarus. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Our actions are fully consistent with our OSCE
obligations and commitments and are taken in support of the
Belarusian people. As we all declared and agreed in Moscow
in 1991, &commitments undertaken in the human dimension of
the OSCE are matters of direct and legitimate concern of all
participating States and do not belong exclusively to the
internal affairs of the State concerned.8
The U.S. has consistently and repeatedly informed the
authorities in Belarus that we will continue to take actions
against officials responsible for human rights abuses as well
as against entities owned or controlled by such persons.
Our aim is to target only those who are involved in
widespread human rights abuses; these sanctions are not
targeted at the Belarusian people. Indeed, we are trying to
help the people of Belarus exercise basic inalienable
freedoms. We note many other OSCE participating States
similarly sanction those responsible for abuses in Belarus.
Belarus has expressed its desire for improved relations with
the United States. This is the path that we also prefer, and
we have made clear our readiness to engage in a dialogue with
Belarus on steps to improve our relations once all the
political prisoners are free. We again urge the Belarusian
authorities to release Aleksandr Kozulin to facilitate a
dialogue on improved relations.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
End text.
RICE