MINSK, 20 April (BelTA) – The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement in response to the USA's decision to resume anti-Belarusian sanctions, BelTA has learned.
The statement reads: “We regret the decision of the American side to resume sanctions against [the Belarusian state petrochemical concern] Belneftekhim and its constituent enterprises. Regardless of whatever rhetoric is used to obscure these sanctions, the step is actually aimed at worsening the material wellbeing of Belarusian citizens and reducing the economic potential of our country – one of the pillars of Belarus' independence. Such actions unambiguously demonstrate what kind of 'free and independent Belarus' the U.S. administration fights for.”
The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that despite the serious domestic problems that everyone is aware of, the new U.S. administration is doing its best to find anyone to demonstrate its rigidity and pseudo-commitment to principles on. “Interests of the private sector, ordinary Belarusians or Americans, security and stability in the region and the world in this process have no significance for Washington. Probably because once again our region will have to pay for consequences of such irresponsible actions on its own,” the statement reads.
The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that sovereignty and independence are unalterable values for the Belarusian nation: “It is high time the USA understood there will be no compromise over these matters. The Republic of Belarus is a country that can defend itself, does not tolerate prodding or external control and does not succumb to sanctions and restrictions. The acceptance of these simple truths will help the resolution of mutual problems.”
“As before, the Republic of Belarus will exercise every effort, including at the international level, to protect the wellbeing of thousands of workers of the enterprises and our citizens from these destructive U.S. measures. We reserve the right to an asymmetric response to the American side,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. “In light of recent events and reports one starts seriously wondering about the hastiness the USA demonstrated as it made this decision. We stress that any progress in the bilateral relations is possible only through a mutually respectful dialogue, for which the Belarusian side is ready as it was ready in the past.”
