U.S. warns of more sanctions on Belarus

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

U.S. warns of more sanctions on Belarus

Wed Apr 25

MINSK, Belarus - A top U.S. diplomat on Wednesday warned of new sanctions against Belarus if authorities refuse to release what he said were political prisoners, and dropping charges against others.
David Kramer, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, told reporters the Belarusian government must take concrete steps to avoid a further deterioration in U.S.-Belarusian relations.
After talks with diplomats, government officials and opposition leaders, Kramer called for the "releasing of all political prisoners, and I mean all political prisoners, and dropping charges against others."
"In absence of those steps I fear that relations could deteriorate," he told reporters. "We have additional steps we can take to increase the pressure upon the government. I hope they won't be necessary."
Last year, the United States and the European Union slapped travel sanctions on President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic with an iron fist for more than a decade, and other top government officials.
The Belarusian leader has quashed dissent and opposition groups and built a Soviet-style, centrally controlled economy that has been heavily reliant on cheap Russian energy supplies.
In recent months, Belarus has lost some of Moscow's support as Russia has forced a series of loss-inducing energy contracts on Minsk. Lukashenko has since made conflicting signals about wanting to ease ties with the West.
Kramer did not give specific names of political activists he said were being held, but opposition groups say at least 10 have been detained by Belarusian authorities, among them Alexander Kozulin, who ran in last year's flawed presidential election.
The country's beleaguered opposition has vowed to hold a rally in Minsk on Thursday marking the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster. Much of southern and eastern Belarus was irradiated from the fallout that ensued from the plant's fire and explosion.

[source]

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

I suspect that most of the members of this Belarussian "opposition" are in fact on American pay-roll. A part of this pressure on Belarus is motivated by the wish to press Russia, no doubt. But it seems there's more to it. Belarus is a self-sufficient country as to most of agricultural products. They don't imoprt much food, it seems. Maybe this is what troubles the Western globalists: it is unallowable for any country to be self-sufficient, we must all be inter-dependent, meaning manipulated and ruled by "them".

[Franze]

I hope Belarus would soon be Russia.

[Whiteruthenian]

Originally Posted by Peter

I hope Belarus would soon be Russia.

Be you damned for these words! Anathema! Anathema! Anathema!

May I ask why you need this?

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by Whiteruthenian

Be you damned for these words! Anathema! Anathema! Anathema!

May I ask why you need this?

He's probably not well acquainted with the whole situation around Russia and Belarus.

[svin]

Thanks God, Belarus is independant and does not suffer from caucasian and middle asian immigrants.

[Franze]

Originally Posted by Whiteruthenian

Be you damned for these words! Anathema! Anathema! Anathema!

May I ask why you need this?

I think that some people in Belarus want the union with Russia, in addition, is there historical antecedents of Belarus before 1991. If I have spoken without respect I am sorry. You can tell me another vision.

[Lucas Corso]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

[source]

I hope the rest of the world will start soon sanction against U$

[Whiteruthenian]

Originally Posted by Peter

I think that some people in Belarus want the union with Russia

Yep. Also some people in Belarus want Belarus to be a member of the EU. "Not all morons were killed by the war" they say in my village, you know...

[Crvena zvezda]

Sanctions tend to have a history of failing. They've only helped regimes that the U.S. wants to toplle stay in power longer. And their track record shows this by the regimes U.S. sanctions helped prolong:
- Serbia under Milosevic
- Fidel's Cuba
- Iran under the Ayatollahs
- Iraq under Saddam
- Libya under Quaddhafi

It seems the westerners are unable to learn sanctions do not work.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Whiteruthenian

Yep. Also some people in Belarus want Belarus to be a member of the EU. "Not all morons were killed by the war" they say in my village, you know...

I doubt Belarus will join Russia. Belarus seems to be in an ideal situation - they're living off of Russian handouts (Russia subsidies them some $2billion+ a year only on oil) and any change in the current situation will mean several things -- the people in power in Belarus will lose power, Russians will buy out Belarus as it is still a largely socialist state.

Given how small Belarus is to Russia, a union of two states seem inconceivable. And I doubt Belarussians want to become a federal district or a couple of federal subjects in Russia.

It's kind of like montenegro and serbia. The state that existed prior to Montenegro's independence - an impossible comination since given the difference in size of population and economies. And do to strong regional identity in Montenegro it was unconceivable to see them becoming a mere province of Serbia as some people were suggesting would happen.

[Whiteruthenian]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda

Sanctions tend to have a history of failing. They've only helped regimes that the U.S. wants to toplle stay in power longer. And their track record shows this by the regimes U.S. sanctions helped prolong:
- Serbia under Milosevic
- Fidel's Cuba
- Iran under the Ayatollahs
- Iraq under Saddam
- Libya under Quaddhafi

It seems the westerners are unable to learn sanctions do not work.

Yes, it seems to be true. But I think these sanctions will be only symbolical, so the economy won’t be affected.

Łukašenka’s wish “to ease ties with the West” is just an answer to Russia’s demands to clear up the situation between the two countries. Heh, this his step caused indignation in Russia, and well-known Russian politician Zhirinovskiy even called Łukašenka “prostitute” – I heard it. But he isn’t. May be years ago Łukašenka’s rhetoric about the two brotherly peoples was sincere, but now he does what he must do – he cares about Belarus’ interests. To be honest now even his opponents from opposition national-democratic parties regarded Łukašenka as a real defender of our independence, and few people believe now that the independence is in danger.

This is his difference from Kozulin - this one is an example of oppositionist paid not by the USA but by Moscow. Of course if Kozulin had become a president in year 2005 we all would have much more reasons to be afraid of becoming a Russian province.

I heard the opinion from one who-called-himself-nationalist-and-democrat that if Łukašenka hadn’t changed national symbols and hadn’t given the Russian language rights equal to the rights of the Belarusian language he would support Łukašenka, because the economy is growing, the independence is being defended (even streets are becoming cleaner – no jokes) – what else to wish? Democracy? What for? If Łukašenka resign the economic situation will get worse – even “liberals” acknowledge that, but keep silent about it.

P.S. I’m not a łukašist.

[Erasmus]

Another good reason to support Lukashenka, now he's my avatar on MSN

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Erasmus

Another good reason to support Lukashenka, now he's my avatar on MSN

What about his anti-jewish actions. Apparently he wanted to destroy a jewish cemetery in Minsk.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Whiteruthenian

Yes, it seems to be true. But I think these sanctions will be only symbolical, so the economy won’t be affected.

Łukašenka’s wish “to ease ties with the West” is just an answer to Russia’s demands to clear up the situation between the two countries. Heh, this his step caused indignation in Russia, and well-known Russian politician Zhirinovskiy even called Łukašenka “prostitute” – I heard it. But he isn’t. May be years ago Łukašenka’s rhetoric about the two brotherly peoples was sincere, but now he does what he must do – he cares about Belarus’ interests. To be honest now even his opponents from opposition national-democratic parties regarded Łukašenka as a real defender of our independence, and few people believe now that the independence is in danger.

This is his difference from Kozulin - this one is an example of oppositionist paid not by the USA but by Moscow. Of course if Kozulin had become a president in year 2005 we all would have much more reasons to be afraid of becoming a Russian province.

I heard the opinion from one who-called-himself-nationalist-and-democrat that if Łukašenka hadn’t changed national symbols and hadn’t given the Russian language rights equal to the rights of the Belarusian language he would support Łukašenka, because the economy is growing, the independence is being defended (even streets are becoming cleaner – no jokes) – what else to wish? Democracy? What for? If Łukašenka resign the economic situation will get worse – even “liberals” acknowledge that, but keep silent about it.

P.S. I’m not a łukašist.

I think Lukashenko has always been like this. It's just become more clear as union calls have become more frequent from Russia.

I think in 1998/99 with the NATO threats on Yugoslavia he seemed to show any actual support for a union.

[Erasmus]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda

What about his anti-jewish actions. Apparently he wanted to destroy a jewish cemetery in Minsk.