US Determined about Belarus

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs David Kramer has taken part in the 2008 Brussels Forum in Brussels, Belgium. Events in Belarus were a subject of consultations of David Kramer and the US Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart with the leadership of the EU and countries members of the EU. As long as the countries are represented by the highest officials at the Brussels Forum, it was a unique chance to discuss the situation that had shaped in Belarus.

The international coordinator of the Charter’97, a member of the organising committee of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov has taken part in the Brussels Forum and met David Kramer and representatives of the EU High Representative Javier Solana’s office.

“As far as I know, Kramer and Stewart had consultations on the “Belarusian issue”. The Europeans have confirmed that the issue of political prisoners is a priority in relations with Belarus. Any steps to meet the Belarusian regime would be possible only after release of all political prisoners. Europe would also pay great attention to how the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic would take place in Belarus,” Andrei Sannikov said.

As said by Andrei Sannikov, David Kramer reiterated the US interest in fence-mending with Belarus.

“David Kramer has said that the US was ready to make concrete steps in this direction; however the Belarusian regime unexpectedly decided to take it upon itself to start a conflict with the US and receded from its own previous assurances. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State was ready to arrive to Minsk, when Alyaksandr Kazulin was released to attend his wife’s funeral. However, the official Minsk’s actions were strange. The Belarusian Embassy to the US disdainfully issued a visa for wrong dates, not for the days he had applied for, but for a week after, thus demonstrating complete unwillingness to cooperate. David Kramer was ready to visit Minsk. Among other things, to continue consultations with officials and discuss further steps on development of relations between the US and Belarus. But Minsk has chosen a conflict, not cooperation,” the member of the organising committee of “European Belarus” said.

As for consultations held by Kramer and Stewart held in Brussels, according to Sannikov, official statements are unlikely to be expected, but one can state that the EU leadership and the governments of its states have taken the aggravation of relations between Belarus and the US seriously. They undoubtedly share the concern of the US about the actions of the Belarusian regime.

“I can add my own impression after meetings with representatives of the US and EU. The US is really determined an in a serious mood. If the official Minsk would show interest in improving relations with the US and start implementing the steps that had been agreed upon, the US would be ready to support these steps. In case the Belarusian regime would decide to go to war with the US, the US has enough lever to make the Belarusian regime itself suffer from this war. As far as I know, Europeans are already discussing a possibility of hardening of an attitude towards Belarus, if nothing would follow Minsk’s promises. However, like the US, Europe is not interested in fomenting tension and wants Belarus’ full participation in its Neighbourhood policy,” the diplomat underlined.

A note of the Charter’97 press-center:

Brussels Forum is an annual high-level meeting of the most influential American and European political, corporate, and intellectual leaders to address pressing challenges currently facing both sides of the Atlantic. Participants include heads of state, senior officials from the European Union institutions and the member states, U.S. Cabinet officials, Congressional representatives, Parliamentarians, academics, and media.