1997 press releases

New U.S. Policy Towards Belarus (February 28, 1997)

The United States, other OSCE member states and the European Union have viewed with concern the developments in Belarus over recent months.

Unfortunately, for some time and particularly since November of last year, when a referendum was held in Belarus that was widely considered to be flawed and undemocratic, basic democratic principles and respect for human rights have been jeopardized. Since then, the principles of separation of powers, freedom of assembly and expression, dire process and freedom of movement have been challenged. The result has been a weakening of democracy in Belarus. In addition, Belarus has failed to adhere to its commitments to international financial organizations.

The United States has consistently aimed to promote stability, democracy, a market-oriented economy and respect for internationally-recognized principles of human rights in Belarus. When Belarus began to move away from these principles, it increasingly isolated itself from the international community and reduced the scope for constructive relations with the United States.

Recently, we notified the government of the Republic of Belarus that our bilateral diplomatic contacts will be conducted at a level commensurate with U.S. objectives. Policy-level contacts will be infrequent. We will enhance contact with, and we will encourage, democratic elements in Belarus, the independent media and non-governmental organizations.

We remain concerned that the newly-constituted parliament and Constitutional Court were created in a flawed process. Our contacts with those bodies will be limited to essential business. We will continue to work with individual members of either body who support democracy and human rights. Our military-to-military relationship is also being adjusted in a manner consistent with the policy changes outlined here.

In the economic sphere, the International Monetary Fund has suspended its programs in Belarus in response to the government's failure to permit privatization and other structural reforms that are needed to begin the move to a market-oriented economy.

For our part, no further OPIC insurance or financing is planned, pending resolution of a claim recently initiated against the government of Belarus. The Trade and Development Agency has suspended its activities there. The bilateral Business Development Committee will focus on protecting existing U.S. investments and commercial activities. The Export-Import Bank is not providing financing in Belarus. In addition, the U.S. Government will encourage U.S. investors to explore other nearby countries, due to the risks of doing business in a country lacking adequate checks and balances.

USAID technical and economic assistance will be channeled henceforth to promote democratization, the protection of human rights, private enterprise, the independent media and humanitarian assistance to Chernobyl victims and to hospitals. Non-governmental channels will be used wherever possible. No direct assistance to the state sector in Belarus will be provided.

The United States welcomes recent statements by the government of Belarus that it wants constructive, positive relations with all its neighbors and with the democracies of the West. The government of Belarus now holds the key to our future relationship. We will be looking for signs of improvement in all of the areas we have outlined as causing concern. We urge the Belarusian government to pursue economic reform in accordance with agreed IMF programs. We look for genuine progress toward protecting internationally-recognized human rights and the principles of democracy, such as separation of powers, that Belarus, as a member of the OSCE, has voluntarily undertaken.

U.S. policy is not static. We are not disengaging from Belarus and we do not seek Belarus's isolation. We are open to dialogue and we will continue to reassess our relationship in the months ahead within the framework of the principles we have outlined.