MINSK, 2 April (BelTA) - Deputy Head of Belarus President Administration Dmitry Krutoi commented on the recent statements of the U.S. Department of State regarding sanctions against the Belarusian enterprises. The situation will be studied at the level of the Belarusian government, he told the media during the meeting held on 2 April to discuss the Belarus-Russia Union State's opportunities, BelTA has learned.
“These are the fresh statements. We have not studied them that deeply yet. I think our colleagues are just up to the mark. They usually consider such decisions in March-April and now they have announced them, at least at the level of some officials. I am sure this situation will be studied at the level of the government of our country. If necessary, some things will be reported to the president, and there will definitely be some response measures in case this threat becomes reality,” said Dmitry Krutoi.
On 31 March, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said that the Department of State intends to recommend the Department of Treasury not to extend the suspension of sanctions against nine petrochemical companies in Belarus. The current extension expires on 26 April 2021. The U.S. Department of Treasury partially lifted sanctions against nine Belarusian petrochemical companies in October 2015. Until 2018, the decision was reviewed every six months. Last year, the sanctions suspension regime was extended for a year, then for another year and a half.
Restrictions were lifted from the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim and its representative offices, open joint-stock companies Belshina, Grodno Azot, Grodno Khimvolokno, Lakokraska, Naftan, Polotsk-Steklovolokno, and Belarusian Oil Trading House.
On 2 April, the Palace of the Republic in Minsk hosted the solemn meeting “Union State: Opening New Opportunities” dedicated to the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia. The event was attended by heads of the national government bodies, the Permanent Committee of the Union State and its representative office in Minsk, public associations and others. Studios in Moscow joined the event in the online format.
