“Sovetskaya Belorussia”: What is US Ambassador waiting for?

Newspaper of the Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s Administration “Sovetskaya Belorussia” has touched a subject of imposing by the United States sanctions against Belneftekhim.

Observer Nina Ramanva writes in the article “Neighbourhood Policy” about signing 7 March an agreement on foundation, privileges and immunity of the office of Commission of European Communities in our country.

“From the formal point of view it is a finish and routine procedure of opening the European Commission office in our country. The political decision was taken 19 October last year, when a project of the appropriate agreement was approved by a President’s decree. The document was initialled in Minsk on 5 December. And then he was signed in the European Union’s capital. Interests of Belarus in Europe and interests of the EU on the continent are intersected and the question on a place for accommodation of interests is long overdue. The expecting cutting of red ribbon at opening the European Commission office in Minsk must open door for many mutually beneficial projects. Commenting on this event, one of our diplomats said he expected the office would become a guide of the European policy. But we act as a “giving party,” useful and responsible partner on many issues,” SB runs.

Here, “Sovetskaya Belorussia” stresses, much depends on whether EU’s foreign policy would be independent from the US.

“Because the objective of the United States, in any case, imposing economic sanctions against Belarus, doesn’t agree with the European interests. The US is beyond the ocean. But Baltic countries, for instance, need a reliable neighbour... I remind, the US Department of Treasury published explanations to economic sanctions imposed against Belneftekhim concern, which essence is restricting access of the concern enterprises to the US market. Commenting on recalling Belarusian Ambassador from the US for consultations, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrei Papou said the United States had breached an agreed scheme of actions to normalize relations with the EU and the US. By the way, US Ambassador, in defiance of diplomatic practice, has remained in Minsk. What she is waiting for?..” newspaper of Lukashenka’s administration wonders.

It should be reminded that the reason of imposing sanctions by the US is political prisoners in Belarus. Former candidate for presidency in Belarus Alyaksandr Kazulin, youth leader Andrei Kim and entrepreneurs’ leader Syarhei Parsyukevich are in prisons now.