For three days representatives of the US State Department had meetings with representatives of the Administration of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the church leaders, Belarusian politicians and human rights activists. US officials raised the issue of sanctions.
Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, US Department of State Robert Berschinski had a meeting with journalists where he said that the Belarusian authorities have made a positive step by releasing political prisoners. In response, the United States made an appropriate step – to suspend sanctions. If the situation deteriorates, the sanctions once again will be introduced in full.
Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office for European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink noted: “The United States will monitor the situation for six months. The United States supports the efforts of Belarus to be an independent country.”
According to the official, the sovereignty of Belarus can be further enhanced by the positive steps of the Belarusian authorities.
The US is now expecting the Belarusian authorities to take appropriate steps in the direction of the changes in the electoral law, freedom of assembly and political parties.
On October 29, the US Treasury partially eased sanctions against a number of Belarusian enterprises. The sanctions list includes concern “Belneftekhim”, “Grodno Azot”, “Belarusian Oil Trade House”, JSC “Naftan», “Belneftekhim USA Inc”., “Belshina”, JSC “Grodno Khimvolokno”, “Lakokraska” and JSC “Polotsk-Fiberglass”. The property of these enterprises remains locked, but the transactions are still allowed.
Lyubou Lunyova
