Raman Yakauleuski: Senator Pearce reminds of a sensitive segment in Belarusian economy

Political observer Raman Yakauleuski commented on the possible imposition of US sanctions against Belaruskali.

Today The Wall Street Journal reports that the republican Steve Pearce has proposed a draft law to the US Congress expanding sanctions on Belaruskali and its trader Belarusian Potash Company, Radio Svaboda reports.

Raman Yakauleuski believes that the initiative should be treated seriously.

"In political system of the United States the Congress plays as important role as the White House. Therefore I emphasize: any initiative of the Congress should be treated as a serious event. It is clear that the republicans adhere to stricter foreign policy and Senator Pearce reminded of a very significant and sensitive segment of Belarusian economy. No positive steps in normalization of bilateral relations can be one of the motives. Issues of democracy and human rights are not solved in Belarus, the situation remains unsatisfactory," the expert says.

It is noteworthy that Aliaksandr Lukashenka has quite positively assessed relations between Belarus and the United States. In his recent speech he stressed that the USA had finally understood that the normalization of Belarus-USA relations "lies through constructive and equal cooperation", and the search of common points with the United States by implementation of economic projects had already started to fruit.

Earlier, at the press conference in January, Lukashenka stressed that the USA did not put pressure on him:"I can honestly tell you that neither yesterday nor the day before it the Americans put pressure on us. On the contrary, we have dialogue: well, guys, let's stop fouling each other's reputation on mass media. We do not see it on the part of the Americans. The rhetoric that used to be is absent now".

But Yakauleuski thinks that today it is impossible to talk about normalization of relations between Belarus and Washington. Absence of positive steps towards greater diplomatic presence of the two countries only proves this.

"As far as we know, no premises for ambassadors of the two countries have appeared. This is the indicator proving that all is not so good and, I stress, Belarus foreign policy is not so independent from the Kremlin as Belarusian propaganda says," an international observer notes.