BELARUS: ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON INVITATIONS TO

UNCLAS STATE 068649 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ODIP PREL BO SUBJECT: BELARUS: ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON INVITATIONS TO JULY 4 EVENTS REF: A. STATE 67793 ¶B. STATE 51270 ¶1. (U) Summary. This is an action message. This cable clarifies Ref A guidance on invitations to Belarusian officials to July 4 events and supersedes guidance in Ref B on contacts with Belarus officials. Department regrets any confusion resulting from the two cables. Embassies that have already extended invitations to Belarusian officials prior to receiving instructions not to do so are instructed to withdraw the invitation. End Summary. -------------- 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. If embassies have already extended invitations to Belarusian officials, they should orally disinvite, noting as appropriate Ref A discussion of the deterioration in the Belarusian human rights climate and unwarranted Belarusian actions against our Embassy. 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. ¶3. (U) For additional information or guidance on contacts with Belarusian officials, you may contact Joe Wang, Belarus Desk Officer, at 202-736-4443. ¶4. (U) Minimize Considered. RICE