Norwegian Foreign Minister agrees with Tsikhanouskaya regarding Yara and sanctions
On December 16, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya held an online meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Anniken Huitfeldt. Tsikhanouskaya’s office informed Belsat about the results of the meeting.
At the meeting with the minister, they spoke about the cooperation of the Norwegian company Yara with Belaruskali. Despite the U.S. sanctions against the Belarusian company, that came in force this month, as well as new sanctions against Belarusian Potash Company, Yara is still buying Belarusian potash.
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, according to her office, was in agreement with Anniken Huitfeldt about the attitude of Belarusians about unethical to cooperation with the “wallets” of the regime.
During the meeting, Tsikhanouskaya:
- thanked Norway for its active position and support for the fifth package of EU sanctions (of which Norway is not a member). The Belarusian leader noted that it is important to close the “loopholes” in the sanctions and increase pressure on the regime;
- noted the importance of Norway’s participation in the launch of the Vienna Mechanism at the OSCE;
- in view of the fact that Norway is a member of the UN Security Council, she urged to raise the Belarusian issue at the UN and discuss the creation of an international tribunal for the crimes of Lukashenka’s regime;
- called for continued assistance to independent media, civil society, human rights activists, students, and academics.
- noted that it is important to diplomatically isolate the regime and prevent contact with its representatives until the Belarusian people’s demand for the release of all political prisoners is met.
So far, Norway has supported the European Humanities University (EHU), ECLAB, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the Human Rights House, the media and cultural grants, and has participated in the launch of the IAPB evidence platform.
Tsikhanouskaya had already met with the minister in August when Anniken Huitfeldt was chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Norwegian parliament.
