VZCZCXRO7999
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #2535/01 0882340
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O P 282335Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK IMMEDIATE 0875
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 8821
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0102
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 9358
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 3205

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 032535 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV AMGT KHUM ODIP OFDP BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS: RESPONSE TO MINSK GUIDANCE REQUEST 
 
REF: MINSK 215 
 
Classified By: ACTING A/S KURT VOLKER 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (S) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST.  In response to Reftel, 
the Department has determined that a five-person embassy 
is not tenable in the hostile environment of Belarus. 
Embassy Minsk would need to be closed entirely if Belarus 
forces the issue and requires us to operate with five 
American staff.  Embassy Minsk should continue ongoing 
preparations with all deliberate speed and in coordination 
with the Department for likely closure of the Embassy.  If 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as expected, demands on 
March 31 that Embassy Minsk voluntarily reduce the number 
of American staff from 17 to 5, Charge is instructed not 
to respond directly to such a request, but to protest in 
the strongest possible terms that there will be negative 
consequences.  Charge is also instructed to tell the MFA 
that such a demand will be immediately referred to the 
Department for further guidance.  See paragraphs 3, 4 and 
5 for additional guidance. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. 
 
¶2. (S) The Department is currently taking steps to prepare 
for the likelihood that Belarus will expel additional 
American diplomats and that Embassy Minsk will be forced 
to close.  The Department understands that the Belarus 
diplomatic and media assault on Embassy Minsk, including 
American and foreign staff, has created an environment of 
uncertainty.  We are making every effort to ensure that if 
necessary, the closure of Embassy Minsk can be 
accomplished quickly, safely, and effectively. 
 
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Objectives 
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¶3. (S) Embassy Minsk is requested to pursue the following 
objectives with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the 
event the MFA demands a reduction in U.S. staff. 
 
-- Object in the strongest terms to Belarus requesting a 
reduction to 5 American staff immediately after requesting 
a reduction to 17 American staff. 
 
-- Express U.S. outrage at the diplomatic and media 
assault on our embassy, our locally employed staff, our 
American staff, and the clear decision to continue to 
ignore fundamental freedoms and human rights. 
 
-- Warn the Belarusians of the consequences of their 
actions.  These would likely include additional financial 
sanctions, which could happen very soon after such an 
action has been taken against us.  Their actions have also 
spurred internal discussions about how we could justify 
extending the Jackson-Vanik waiver in June, and how we 
could justify supporting Belarus,s WTO accession talks. 
 
-- Inform the MFA that we will refer the issue to the 
Department for further guidance, without signaling any 
acceptance of the Belarusian demand. 
 
------------------- 
Additional Guidance 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (S) In response to reftel request for guidance on 
timing for suspension for classified operations, the 
Bureau of Diplomatic Security is working out a schedule 
directly with Embassy Minsk. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In response to reftel request for authorization 
for HHE packout for all American employees, packout as 
necessary is authorized.  Charge the following fund cite 
for all packout costs: 
      Appropriation: 19  X05220000 
      Allotment: 1007 
      Obligation: 808009 
      Op Allow: 100708 
      Object: 9100 
Maintain separate itemization of costs per family unit for 
 
STATE 00032535  002 OF 002 
 
 
reporting to RM/CFO. 
 
¶6. (U) Point of Contact in the Office of Ukraine, Moldova 
and Belarus Affairs is Stephen Gee, Desk Officer for 
Belarus, 202-736-4443, or GEESJ@STATE.SGOV.GOV. 
Administrative point of contact in EUR-IO/EX is Pri Sen, 
Post Management Officer, 202-736-7513 or SENPX@STATE.GOV . 
RICE