2004 press releases

Statement on the Belarusian Authorities' Actions Against the European Humanities University (August 6, 2004)

The Embassy of the United States deplores the actions of the Belarusian authorities that have led the internationally respected European Humanities University to cease its activities. The annulment of the university's license and lease and the order to vacate its premises by August 5 without legal appeal would appear to violate not only Belarusian laws but also the very principles of academic freedom. The United States had asked the Belarusian authorities at the highest level to rescind these orders to allow the university to continue its educational activities unhindered. The United States views these actions as a distressing sign of the Belarusian authorities' continuing hostile attitude toward independent education. Such an unfortunate attitude only serves to isolate Belarus more from the mainstream of society in the trans-Atlantic community of nations.

The United States has provided assistance to the European Humanities University as it has Belarusian state institutions of higher education solely to help enrich the educational experience of the Belarusian people in the spirit of friendship between our peoples. The United States will continue to support efforts by the European Humanities University in this time of adversity to help keep alive its mission of providing high quality, independent humanities education to the youth -- the future of Belarus -- a goal of mutual interest to the Belarusian and American peoples.