Charge Moore Meets With Belarusian MFA

23 March 2008

Minsk, Belarus

 Chargé Jonathan Moore was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 23.  At the meeting, the Chargé was told that the Ministry "requested" that the Embassy provide a list of the five U.S. diplomats who would remain in Belarus on April 30.  Mr. Moore protested this news, and noted that there would be grave consequences as a result of this unprecedented and unwarranted step by the Belarusian authorities.  He added that he would inform the U.S. Department of State in Washington and would provide a reply to the Belarusian requirement in due course.

Mr. Moore also protested the continued lack of access to American citizen Emanuel Zeltser, whom the Embassy has not been able to visit since March 27, and expressed concerns about the state of Mr. Zeltser's health.