Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10STATE10039
2010-02-01 19:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

DIPLOMATIC NOTE PROPOSING RECIPROCAL LIFTING OF

Tags:  BO KREC PGOV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #0039 0321928
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011921Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 3232
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS PRIORITY 3225
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 010039 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
TO THE EMBASSIES IN VILNIUS AND KYIV FOR EMBASSY MINSK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2020
TAGS: BO KREC PGOV
SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC NOTE PROPOSING RECIPROCAL LIFTING OF
40 KM TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON EMBASSY PERSONNEL IN MINSK

Classified By: LSILVERMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 010039

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
TO THE EMBASSIES IN VILNIUS AND KYIV FOR EMBASSY MINSK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2020
TAGS: BO KREC PGOV
SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC NOTE PROPOSING RECIPROCAL LIFTING OF
40 KM TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON EMBASSY PERSONNEL IN MINSK

Classified By: LSILVERMAN


1. This is an action request. See paragraph 3.


2. (C) In a diplomatic note dated March 31, 2008, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus imposed a requirement
to provide 24-hour prior notification of all U.S. Embassy
staff internal travel outside of a 40-km zone from the center
of Minsk. On July 2, 2008, solely on the basis of
reciprocity, the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) imposed
similar restrictions on accredited employees of the Embassy
of Belarus in Washington and the Consulate General in New
York City. On January 8, 2009, OFM issued a second note
updating the restrictions to require notification by family
members of accredited employees as well. These restrictions
were not imposed in response to security concerns, but solely
in response to GoB restrictions on travel by our staff.

On December 31, 2009, Embassy Minsk Charg received
assurances from Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Aleinik that
if the United States removes the travel restrictions on
Belarusian officials in Washington and New York City, Belarus
would remove similar restrictions on U.S. officials in Minsk.
Greater freedom to travel would improve the ability of
Embassy staff to meet interlocutors, report on events across
the country, and generally perform their required duties.
The FBI has informed OFM that it has no objection to the
removal of the controls on the basis of reciprocity.


3. (SBU) Action request: Embassy Minsk is requested to
pass the diplomatic note below to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and notify the Department when a response is received.

Begin diplomatic note:

The Embassy of the United States of America presents its
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and
refers the Ministry to the Ministry,s Note 6579 dated March
31, 2008, addressed to this Embassy, to the Department,s
Note 08-110 of July 2, 2008, addressed to the Embassy of
Belarus in Washington, D.C., and to the Department,s Note
09-02 of January 8, 2009, also addressed to the Embassy of
Belarus in Washington. Note 6579 imposed travel restrictions
on staff of this Embassy, and the Department,s Notes 08-110
and 09-02 imposed similar restrictions on the travel by
members of the staff of the Embassy of Belarus in Washington
and the Consulate General of Belarus in New York, as well as
on family members of such staff.

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to refer to recent diplomatic
conversations indicating a mutual willingness to remove such
travel restrictions and would like to inform the Ministry
that the Department of State of the United States is prepared
to remove such restrictions on members of the staff, and
related family members, of the Embassy of Belarus in
Washington and the Consulate General of Belarus in New York
based on the Ministry simultaneously lifting the Government
of Belarus,s restrictions on staff of the U.S. Embassy and
related family members.

On this basis, the U.S. Embassy proposes that, upon receipt
of a note from the Ministry confirming the understanding
outlined above, such restrictions would be removed,
simultaneously, on the third business day following the
receipt of said note by the U.S. Embassy. For example, if
said note is received on Monday, all such restrictions on
U.S. staff and family members in Belarus and on staff and
family members of the Embassy and Consulate General of
Belarus in the United States would be eliminated as of
opening of business on Thursday in our respective countries.

The Embassy of the United States avails itself of this
opportunity to renew assurances of its highest regard.

End diplomatic note.
CLINTON