Understanding Each Other, Diversity and Dissent: West Intensifies Syria-Style Campaign Against Belarus

28 February, 2012

West Intensifies Syria-Style Campaign Against Belarus

FROM RICK ROZOFF

http://en.rian.ru/world/20120229/171601256.html

Russian Information Agency Novosti
February 29, 2012

U.S. Warns Belarus of Deepening Isolation

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced on Tuesday that all EU members will recall their ambassadors to Minsk

WASHINGTON: The United States has expressed "deep regret" over the Belarusian authorities' decision to expel two European Union diplomats in retaliation for new EU sanctions imposed on Belarusian officials over alleged human rights violations.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry advised on Tuesday that the head of the EU delegation to Belarus, Ambassador Maira Mora, and Polish Ambassador Leszek Szerepka "leave for their capitals for consultations to inform their leadership of Belarus' firm position that pressure and sanctions are unacceptable." Minsk also recalled its ambassadors from Warsaw and Brussels.

"These actions, like the expulsion of the US ambassador to Belarus in 2008 and the closure of the OSCE office in Minsk in March 2011, are only deepening Belarus' self-isolation," U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

Following the Belarusian statement, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced on Tuesday that all EU members will recall their ambassadors to Minsk.

"In expression of solidarity and unity, it was agreed that the ambassadors of the EU member states in Minsk will all be withdrawn for consultations to their capitals," Ashton said through her spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic. "All EU member states will also summon Belarusian ambassadors to their foreign ministries."

The diplomatic scandal broke out after the EU announced that it had blacklisted another 21 Belarusian officials over their alleged involvement in the ongoing crackdown on the country's opposition. More than 200 people were already on the blacklist, including President Alexander Lukashenko, two of his sons, and most of the country's top leadership. They have been banned from entering the EU and their European assets have been frozen.

Toner said in his statement "the United States stands with our partners and joins them in calling on Belarus to end its repression of civil society and the democratic opposition."

While announcing the decision to expel the diplomats, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh warned that "other measures to defend our interests will also be taken" should Western powers continue putting pressure on Minsk.

He also threatened to ban entry to the country for those EU officials who contributed to the introduction of the new sanctions.

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http://news.belta.by/en/news/politics?id=675540

Belarusian Telegraph Agency
February 28, 2012

EU keeps exerting outright pressure on Belarus

MINSK: The decision of the Council of the EU demonstrates that the European Union sticks to the policy of outright pressure on Belarus, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Andrei Savinykh said on 28 February, commenting on new sanctions by the EU, BelTA has learnt.

"We have reiterated on numerous occasions at all levels that such a policy towards the Republic of Belarus is futile," Andrei Savinykh said. He added that Belarus will retaliate by introducing a travel ban to those EU officials who contributed to the introduction of the restrictive measures against Belarus.

Andrei Savinykh added that Belarus' Permanent Representative to the European Union and Belarus' Ambassador to Poland were recalled to Minsk for consultations. "The head of the EU Office in the Republic of Belarus and the Polish Ambassador to Belarus were also offered to go to their countries for consultations to deliver Belarus' position that condemns pressure and sanctions," he said.

"If the policy of pressure on the Republic of Belarus persists, other measures will follow to protect our interests. We hope that the EU officials and member states will realize the lameness of power politics," Andrei Savinykh said. He noted that Belarus' proposals to the European Union to expand dialogue and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect are still on the table.

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http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/354415.html

Itar-Tass
February 28, 2012

Belarus summons its ambassadors to EU, Poland for consultations

MINSK" Belarus will respond to the decision of the EU Council to tighten sanctions.

"The decision of the EU Council shows that the European Union sticks to the policy of open pressure. We have repeatedly explained on various levels that such policy is unpromising. In turn, Belarus will bar EU officials, who have contributed to the restrictive measures," Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh said.

The Belarusian permanent representative to the European Union and the Belarusian ambassador to Poland have been summoned to Minsk for consultations concerning the new EU sanctions on Belarus, he said.

The head of the EU delegation to Belarus and the Polish ambassador to Belarus "were offered to visit their home countries for consultations and for conveying to their administrations the firm position of Belarus on the impermissibility of pressure and sanctions," Savinykh said. "If pressure on the Republic of Belarus continues, other measures will be taken to protect our interests," he said.

The European Union Council has given an official approval to new sanctions on Belarus. It said that the sanctions applying to persons responsible for serious violations of human rights or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition were tightened against the backdrop of the continuing exacerbation of the situation in Belarus and 21 such persons were added to the list of those who were prohibited to enter the EU and whose assets would be frozen.

There are more than 200 names of high-ranking Belarusian officials, among them President Alexander Lukashenko, on the list at present. Assets of three companies related to the Lukashenko regime remain frozen, and sanctions on Belarusian arms exporters remain valid, the Council said.

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http://news.belta.by/en/news/politics?id=675442

Belarusian Telegraph Agency
February 27, 2012

Russian MPs urge EU to drop ultimatums to Belarus

MOSCOW: The State Duma of Russia regrets the expansion of the EU sanctions against Belarus, chief of the parliamentary committee for the CIS affairs, deputy head of the Russian delegation to PACE Leonid Slutsky told reporters, BelTA has learnt.

"Russia reiterates that this is a destructive approach," the Russian MP said.

Leonid Slutsky urged resumption of dialogue and end to ultimatums towards Belarus. "The best way to do it is to restore Belarus' special guest status at the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly," he said.

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http://news.belta.by/en/news/politics?id=675378

Belarusian Telegraph Agency
February 27, 2012

Policy of intimidation unacceptable for Belarus, Russia

MINSK: Russia and Belarus openly state that a policy of intimidation is unacceptable, Vadim Gigin, Editor in Chief of the Belaruskaya Dumka magazine, told Belarus One TV channel in an interview as he commented on the joint statement made by the presidents of Belarus and Russia regarding possible EU and USA sanctions.

"It is a new stage in the development of geopolitical relations in the post-Soviet space. Russia and Belarus openly and unambiguously state that the policy of intimidation pursued by the USA and the EU is unacceptable in the modern world. It is outdated logic," said Vadim Gigin.

"Unfortunately, in recent years our Western neighbors have been constantly trying to pressure our ways of future political and economic development. In my view it is completely unacceptable with regards to a sovereign and independent country. The way of ultimatums, sanctions and restrictions is the way to nowhere," said Sergei Semashko, member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus.

Chairman of the Belarusian Scientific and Industrial Association Alexander Shvets said: "From the economic point of view it is unacceptable in the modern world. There are no sufficient political or geopolitical reasons when it comes to Belarus. Therefore, we oppose such sanctions and such cooperation".
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