Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Washinton File� 03 August 2001 Text: Washington Condemns Illegal Seizure of U.S. Equipment in Belarus (Aug. 3: Demands return of equipment or reimbursement) (440) The State Department has condemned the recent seizure of U.S. property being leased to an independent newspaper and a pro-democracy commission in Belarus, and has demanded that the government return the equipment to its intended recipients or reimburse the United States for its value. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said the equipment was seized under the terms of Decree No. 8, which he described as the Belarus government's attempt to limit foreign assistance to the democratic opposition prior to presidential elections on September 9. Following is the text of his statement: (begin text) U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman August 3, 2001 Press Statement by Richard Boucher U.S. GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT ILLEGALLY SEIZED BY BELARUS We condemn the latest seizures of U.S. government equipment by Belarus, call on the Belarusian regime to honor their international obligations, and return the wrongfully seized equipment to us immediately. On July 12, a squad of militia officers in the town of Krichev seized equipment owned by the U.S. government and leased to the independent newspaper "Volny Gorad". On the same day, militia officers seized U.S. computer equipment leased by the Embassy Democracy Commission to a Resource Center. This week, the Belarusian government confirmed that the equipment was seized under the terms of Decree No. 8, imposed by the regime to limit foreign assistance to the democratic opposition. This decree has been denounced by the international community as have many other actions taken by the regime that impede the prospect for free and fair presidential elections on September 9. All U.S. government assistance to Belarus falls under the 1996 U.S. Belarus bilateral assistance agreement. These seizures contradict the Belarusian government's assurances that U.S. assistance under the bilateral agreement is exempt from Decree No. 8. Moreover, under the bilateral assistance agreement, U.S. assistance may be used only for the purposes of assistance. The Belarusian authorities therefore have a duty either to return the equipment to its intended recipients, or to the U.S. -- and, failing that, they are obligated to refund its value in dollars. It appears that the Belarusian authorities continue to show the same contempt for their international obligations they displayed in seizing ambassadorial residences in Drozdy in 1998, in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We call upon Belarus to take immediate steps to create conditions for free and fair elections on September 9, based on international standards. Only by doing so will Belarus win the respect of the international community, improve relations with the United States and end its self imposed isolation. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
