Philip Gordon: US won’t lift sanctions against Belarus in such situation

In order to improve Belarusian-American relations Lukashenka’s regime must make a number of moves.

“We have made it clear that we would like to have better, more constructive relations with the authorities of Belarus,” Radio Svaboda was told by Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

However, as said by the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, the US sanctions against Belarus could be lifted only after progress in the issues of democracy and human rights in Belarus:

“The upcoming presidential election could become a possibility for Belarus to demonstrate progress. That is why we will closely follow the vote and would be ready to help in the process, for the Belarusian authorities to use that,” the politician said.

Philip Gordon underlined that correspondence of the presidential elections to international standards is a precondition for lifting the US sanctions.

As said by Gordon, appropriate carrying out of the presidential election by Minsk could open ways for restoring functioning of the US Embassy in Belarus in full.

“The reason why we do not have an Ambassador in Belarus is not our choice; it is their choice in response to the sanctions imposed by us, being guided by motives of democracy and human rights. We would like to see our Ambassador their tomorrow. We do not think that absence of an ambassador is the way which allows to contact with the authorities effectively,” the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon summed up.