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PP RUEHAST
DE RUEHSK #0964/01 2481252
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051252Z SEP 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5041
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000964 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO
 
SUBJECT: CHARGE'S PRESS CONFERENCE ELICITS INTEREST OF 
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, GOB COMPLAINTS 
 
 
MINSK 00000964  001.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) On August 31, Charge hosted a press conference with 
members of the Belarusian independent media and local 
representatives of various international media outlets.  After 
delivering a brief opening statement, Charge and journalists 
engaged in a spirited hour-long question-and-answer session on a 
wide range of issues.  See para 3 for the text of the opening 
statement.  [Note: The full transcript of the press conference 
will be sent separately to EUR/UMB when available.  End note.] 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In quick response to the press conference, MFA U.S. 
Affairs head Sergey Sergeyev called in Charge on September 5 to 
hand-deliver a diplomatic note on the GOB's deep concern with 
the "disrespectful and unfriendly nature" of Charge's recent 
statements.  See para 4 for an unofficial translation of the 
diplomatic note.  [Comment: Sergeyev restricted his oral remarks 
to the points raised in the diplomatic note and, as usual, 
conveyed the clear impression he was only "delivering the mail." 
End comment.] 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Charge assured Sergeyev he would share the GOB's 
concerns with the Department, noting that his calls for the 
immediate release of all political prisoners closely adhere to 
U.S. policy, including the Department's press statement of 
August 4.  Sergeyev asked Charge to reconcile his statements on 
the unlikelihood of U.S. sanctions applied against Belarus and 
the provisions of the latest draft version of the Belarus 
Democracy Reauthorization Act (BDRA).  Charge explained that the 
State Department has not yet formally reviewed the draft 
legislation.  He added that there are no current plans to 
introduce economic sanctions.  However, Charge encouraged 
Sergeyev to focus more on the clear sentiment underlying the 
BDRA, which is growing frustration with the GOB on the continued 
deterioration of democratic freedoms in Belarus. 
 
Press Conference Statement 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Charge d'Affaires Jonathan Moore held a roundtable 
August 31 at the American Center in Minsk with members of 
Belarusian independent media and local representatives of 
various international media outlets.  In an hour-long question- 
and-answer session, Mr. Moore addressed issues spanning from the 
upcoming municipal elections in Belarus to private American 
investment in Belarus.  The Charge delivered an opening 
statement prior to the roundtable.  The statement is quoted in 
full below: 
 
"Thank you for joining us today.  My colleagues and I look 
forward to answering your questions and having an open, on-the- 
record discussion. 
 
I arrived in Minsk on July 25 as Deputy Chief of Mission, and 
have been Charge d'Affaires since August 1.  I am pleased to 
note that Ambassador Karen Stewart plans to arrive in Minsk on 
September 18, and our dialogue with the independent media will 
continue under her leadership. 
 
It is no secret that our relations with Belarus are difficult. 
The United States has no desire to isolate the people of 
Belarus.  However, we cannot support the policies of the current 
regime, including persistent disrespect for international 
standards of democracy and human rights.  Belarusians have every 
right to the same freedoms and opportunities found elsewhere in 
Europe.  In Belarus, persons who have raised legitimate concerns 
about the nature of the regime over the past twelve years have 
lost their jobs, their freedom, and their lives.  Democracy is 
not a perfect process; Americans know that very well.  Many of 
our country's citizens were denied basic rights and freedoms for 
much of our history.  But recognizing that fact about ourselves 
helps us recognize that fact about others. 
 
The United States continues to call upon the regime to release 
all political prisoners unconditionally.  In that regard, I 
would like to note that our requests for access to Aleksandr 
Kozulin, Nikolay Astreiko, and Timofey Dranchuk remain 
unapproved.  On August 30, I visited the Volodarskiy jail to see 
them, and was told that permission had not been granted.  We 
will continue to seek access to them. 
 
In free countries, the people and the media control the state. 
It is the opinion of my government that in Belarus the opposite 
is true.  You, as members of the independent media, have an 
essential role in objectively informing the people of Belarus 
about themselves, their government, and the freedoms that have 
been denied them.  Thank you again for being here with us today. 
I welcome your questions." 
 
 
MINSK 00000964  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Diplomatic Note 
--------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Begin Text: 
 
(Complimentary opening) 
 
During the press conference on August 31, 2006, Charge 
d'Affaires a.i. of the United States Jonathan Moore made a 
number of unfounded and unacceptable remarks and allegations in 
regard to the leadership and people of Belarus. 
 
The statement of the Charge d'Affaires is in obvious disaccord 
with the support for the course of the country's leadership the 
majority of Belarusians demonstrated at the presidential 
election on March 19, 2006. 
 
The ultimatums he put forward not only run contrary to reality 
but constitute an attempt at intervening in the internal affairs 
of Belarus and manifest disrespect toward the law of the host 
country. 
 
In addition, the allegations voiced in relation to the hot air 
balloon incident in Belarusian airspace bear evidence of either 
lack of information or purposeful distortion by the Charge 
d'Affaires of the conclusions made by the international 
commission that investigated the incident in question. 
 
Such statements are of openly expressed disrespectful and 
unfriendly nature, and do not contribute to the establishment of 
trust between the United States of America and the Republic of 
Belarus. 
 
The Ministry wishes to bring to the attention of the American 
side the fact that it is unacceptable for diplomatic agents 
accredited in the Republic of Belarus to make such remarks, and 
calls on the American side to base the relations between our 
countries exclusively on the principles of mutual respect. 
 
(Complimentary closing) 
 
End Text. 
 
Moore