Belarusian leader has spoken on the phone with the director-general of the Norwegian chemical company Yara, which cooperates with Belaruskali. Tsikhanouskaya told the head of Yara Svein Tore Holsether that the repression in Belarus had not ceased. She also shared the results of a new investigation, which proves the direct involvement of Belaruskali management in election fraud, the website Motolko.help reports.
During the conversation, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya stressed that 32 companies (including British American Tobacco, Rolls Royce, Scandia Steel, Becker Group, Hansen & Rosenthal, and others) had already stopped cooperating with the state enterprises of Belarus. She also spoke about developing an action plan with such companies, as foreign investments would be welcome in our country after changes.
Yara promised to review its cooperation with Belaruskali by December but is currently staying in Belarus.
During the conversation with Tsikhanouskaya, Yara’s head spoke about creating safe working conditions at the Belarusian enterprise because, unfortunately, there are still accidents at Belaruskali, including those with fatalities.
Svein Tore Holsether said it would be better to take any possible steps to improve the safety situation than leaving Belarus and having no influence.
This year, Yara’s team has visited Belaruskali to assess industrial and corporate safety at the plant.
“Belarusians consider this behavior unethical — looking for loopholes in the EU and U.S. sanctions. This has already greatly affected Yara’s reputation in Belarus. I’ve already said it during a conversation with the head of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and met with Minister Huitfeldt’s understanding. We will continue to raise the issue of stopping Yara’s cooperation with the regime companies over and over again. It’s the opinion of Belarusians. I do it for their sake,” said Tsikhanouskaya at the end of the conversation.
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya had an online meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Anniken Huitfeldt, on 16 December.
An important topic raised there was the cooperation of the Norwegian company Yara with Belaruskali. Despite U.S. sanctions against the Belarusian company, which came into force this month, and new sanctions against Belarusian Potash Company, Yara continues to buy Belarusian potash.
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, according to her office, had Anniken Huitfeldt’s understanding and noted that the Belarusians consider it unethical to cooperate with the “wallets” of the regime.
belsat.eu
