1997 press releases

Misrepresentations of U.S. Assistance (July 1, 1997)

The United States finds very disturbing the comments made by President Lukashenko of Belarus on June 27 publicly mischaracterizing the U.S. Government's assistance to Belarus. Some $40 million of planned Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR, or Nunn-Lugar) assistance was not released to Belarus in 1997 because the U.S. was unable to certify Belarus for compliance with the human rights requirements mandated by the CTR program. Congress requires such an annual certification for all countries receiving CTR funds.

The statements do not mention that the Government of Belarus's lack of respect for internationally recognized standards of human rights forced the United States to reach such a decision.

The United States has voluntarily undertaken to provide Belarus with more than $119 million in CTR assistance. This includes funds to help Belarus fulfill its obligations to destroy launch pads for SS-25 nuclear missiles formerly based in Belarus. We have already provided more than $60 million in CTR assistance and are delivering another $19 million previously authorized by Congress.

We still have money set aside for the ecologically sound destruction of the launch pads. The Government of Belarus is responsible for the delays in this project. The U.S. contractor hired to destroy the pads was prepared to begin work over a year ago, but to date the Government of Belarus has denied the contractor access to the launch pads facilities.

And the unreleased funding may yet be made available--but only if we are able to certify Belarus for human rights compliance. In that case, the money would be released either later this year or in 1998. We again urge the Government of Belarus to demonstrate a commitment to the observance of human rights, and to avoid misrepresenting the facts.