The United States of America have deep concern about the lack of any democratic action progress, Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, stated on his visit to Lithuania on January, 12, 2012.
According to him, Belarus did have an opportunity of starting observance of human rights and therefore improving relations with the USA, but after repressions of the opposition and the arrest of human rights activist Bialiatski the situation changed. The USA reiterated position of applying sanctions against Belarus. They see no future of the relations between the two countries, Assistant Secretary noted.
Answering the question on the reason for Clinton’s support of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction on the border of the EU, Mr. Gordon pointed out that the USA would not oppose it if Belarus handed over enriched uranium and its NPP passed the international standards of safety. U.S. Assistant Secretary mentioned that the USA would not finance the construction or maintenance of the Belarusian nuclear power plant; they just respect the right of safe nuclear power development in Belarus.
In August, 2011 the USA imposed sanctions against four Belarusian enterprises (Belshina, a tyre factory; Grodno Azot, a fertilizer manufacturer; Grodno Khimvolokno, a fiber manufacturer; Naftan, an oil refinery) due to political repressions in Belarus. Barack Obama extended the federal law regulating commercial relations with countries that threaten the United States. Belarus has been in this list since 2006. The Belarusian authorities responded with the suspension of a joint program to exchange of highly enriched nuclear fuel with the USA.
Belsat
