Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE67793
2008-06-24 18:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

GUIDANCE ON OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH BELARUS

Tags:  PGOV PREL ODIP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 067793 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ODIP
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH BELARUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 067793

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ODIP
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH BELARUS


1. (U) Summary. This cable provides guidance for
contacts with Belarus officials, with background on the
current state of relations between the United States and
Belarus.

--------------
Representational Contacts
--------------


2. (U) In light of the ongoing pressure by Belarus on
our embassy personnel, it would not be appropriate to
invite government of Belarus representatives to USG
representational events or for USG representatives to
attend events hosted by or hosted in honor of Belarusian
officials, including Belarus national day on July 3 and
U.S. Independence Day on July 4. In past years, the
Department has not maintained a firm policy on such
events, asking posts to use their own discretion.
However, it is important that U.S. missions do not send
signals to Belarus or to other countries that our
relations with Belarus are being conducted on a business
as usual basis.

--------------
Official Meetings: Selective Engagement
--------------


3. (U) Since 1997, the United States has maintained a
policy of "selective engagement" with Belarusian
leaders: our official contacts with Belarus are
commensurate with our policy objectives. Policy-level
contacts are infrequent. We do maintain robust contacts
with and encourage democratic elements in Belarus,
including independent media and non-governmental
organizations. Our informal agreement with the EU has
been not to meet Belarusian officials at the Cabinet
level. In practice, U.S. policy contacts have been at
or below the Deputy Assistant Secretary level.


4. (U) In conversations with allies, particularly in
Europe, we should reinforce that our selective
engagement policy has been successful in marginalizing
the Lukashenka regime and demonstrating a cost for its
behavior. Belarus has regularly sought senior level
contacts with the U.S. and European countries as a way
to gain legitimacy both in the eyes of other leaders and
in the eyes of the Belarusian public. We have
maintained that senior level contacts should only come
after Belarus takes significant steps towards easing the
atmosphere of repression. Our continued U.S.-EU policy
of maintaining official contacts below the ministerial
level has been an important public demonstration of the
unacceptable nature of Lukashenka's actions. We should
also point out that the Lukashenka regime has
historically distorted and exploited rare senior level
contacts to claim legitimacy for his regime, without
granting any concessions for such contacts.


5. (U) We continue to maintain working level engagement
on issues of mutual concern, often within the context of
international organizations and institutions.

--------------
Background on Current Bilateral Relations
--------------


6. (U) The United States continues to maintain
diplomatic relations with Belarus, though these have
been severely strained in recent months. Beginning in
March 2008, Belarus has expelled or otherwise forced the
departure of our Ambassador and all but 5 American
diplomats. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has
set an upper limit of five American diplomats who can be
in country at any time, including temporary duty (TDY)
visitors working at the Embassy. Our Locally Engaged
Staff (LES) have encountered harassment and threats due
to their employment with the U.S. embassy. Recipients
of U.S. assistance have also been harassed and
threatened with criminal penalties for their activities
in support of human rights and democracy, and the state-
controlled media has conducted Soviet-style ?exposes? of
U.S. activities.


7. (U) Belarusian officials have made it clear that they
are applying this pressure on our mission to compel a
reduction in the sanctions imposed after the fraudulent
presidential election of March 2006 and tightened in
recent months. In particular, the Belarusian
authorities have reacted to sanctions imposed in

STATE 00067793 002 OF 002


November 2007 on state oil and chemical conglomerate
Belneftekhim and to a March 2008 clarification that
subsidiaries of Belneftekhim are also subject to the
sanctions. These recent measures were taken after
Belarus failed to release all political prisoners,
including presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin.


8. (U) Throughout the diplomatic assault on our embassy,
we have told Belarus we are open to a dialogue aimed at
improved relations, but have stressed that this dialogue
would have to occur in the context of the release of all
political prisoners and of concrete and irreversible
steps to correct the underlying factors that led to the
imposition of sanctions.


9. (U) For additional information or guidance on
contacts with Belarusian officials, you may contact
Joseph Wang, Belarus Desk Officer, at 202-736-4443 or
Deputy Director Colleen Hoey in the Office of Ukraine,
Moldova and Belarus Affairs at 202-647-9049.
RICE