Lukashenka promised Americans to release Zeltser (Updated)

An arrangement to release the US layer was reached today at a meeting of the US Congress’s delegation with Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The Belarusian ruler signed a decree to pardon Emanuel Zeltser today.

The US congressmen and senators held a press conference in Minsk after meetings with Alyaksandr Lukashenka and civil society activists.

“We’ve come to Belarus, because we think Belarus fails to comply with OSCE demands. We raised these questions at the meeting with the Belarusian president. We discussed such matters as necessary carrying out democratic reforms, respect for human rights, reforming electoral legislation, giving freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of association to citizens, giving the right to the opposition to resist the government,” said Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Benjamin Cardin, head of the delegation.

The representatives of the Congress’s delegation told they’d arranged at the meeting with the Belarusian ruler that US lawyer Emanuel Zeltser, arrested in Minsk last March, would be released today. According to them, condition of Zeltser’s health causes concern of the US authorities, and the American lawyer must be released on humanitarian grounds.

“Zeltser’s release would become the first step allowing us to speak with each other,” the American politicians said.

Senator Cardin reminded that the American politicians met with Belarusian opposition activists.

“We have an opportunity to meet with political activists and get information about their concerns at first hand. We spoke about necessity to observe human rights and development of democratic institutions in Belarus. We’ll bring this information to Washington, and will work for reforms in your country,” the politician said.

Congressman Christopher Smith, one of the authors of the Belarus Democracy Act, expressed his concern over human rights violation in our country.

“We had a really open meting with Lukashenka, but there were some moments in the conversation. We expressed our concern over non-observance of human rights in Belarus in a number of sectors, especially those having respect to freedom of speech and freedom of association. We emphasized that words were good, but actions were more important. Alyaksandr Lukashenka should welcome a dialogue with the opposition in the country as he welcomed our visit to Belarus. A dialogue with the opposition is necessary. It should be sincere, open, without fear. Lukashenka said he hoped the sanctions imposed by the US would be lifted. Our delegation gave to understand that now he has the ball. Belarus needs systematic changes. You have a road map. Everything is written down in the Belarus Democracy Act. It mentions the rights that must be observed. We hope the economic crisis will make Lukashenka think. Belarus will only gain if it settles down to a course of democratic reforms.”

To a question what were the reasons for Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s consent to meet with the US Congress’s delegation, Senator Benjamin Cardin said:

“This is the first visit of a delegation of such level to Belarus for last ten years. We have obvious differences in opinions with the Belarusian president. But we gave him to understand at the meeting that Belarus should comply with the international demands and observe the OSCE obligations,” Senator Cardin said.

To a question if Alyaksandr Lukashenka made any conditions for the American politicians, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, represent6waive of the Committee on Appropriations, said:

“Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that barriers in Belarus–US relations should be removed. But he didn’t mention any barriers that can be removed. Instead of suggesting a way to remove these barriers, he denied the current political situation in Belarus. It is important for us to continue the dialogue. But I don’t see an opportunity of rendering aid or granting credits unless certain steps are made.”

The Charter’97 press center asked Congressman Christopher Smith after the press conference why Barack Obama, unlike his predecessors, practically doesn’t speak about human rights situation in the world.

“I criticized the US president for his speech in China, but he extended the Belarus Democracy Act. He did the right thing and by this he expressed the attitude if the US towards the situation in your country,” Christopher Smith answered.

30 minutes after the press conference, it became known that the Belarusian ruler signed a decree to pardon US national Emanuel Zeltser, who was sentenced to three years in prison allegedly for industrial espionage.

Representatives of the US Congress visit Belarus as a part of their visit to the Baltic and Balkan states. The delegation consists of Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Commission Ranking Minority Member Congressman Christopher Smith , and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, Congressman Robert Aderholt, Congressman Louise Slaughter, Senator Roger Wicker, Congressman Lloyd Doggett.