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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVL #0429/01 1551032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031032Z JUN 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2370
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000429 
 
AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS: EMBASSY SEIZES MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 
 
Summary and Introduction 
------------------------ 
 
¶1.  (SBU) In recent months of escalating tension with the GOB, post 
has engaged the local independent and state-run press on numerous 
occasions, ensuring that the USG perspective is heard by as wide a 
Belarusian audience as possible.  A series of attacks by the 
state-dominated media on the Embassy's activities, included publicly 
(and privately) accusing its staff of running a spy ring and 
interfering with internal politics, then declaring ten U.S. 
diplomats to be personae non gratae.  In response, post worked to 
navigate the tightly controlled media environment to ensure rapid 
and ongoing efforts to set the record straight through interviews -- 
many of which have included video content available on the internet 
-- with independent newspapers, broadcasters, and news services. 
End summary and introduction. 
 
"Spy Ring" Attack 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Although attacks on the Embassy staff and its activities by 
the GOB-controlled media have been regular in recent years, they 
became pointed in mid-March when the state-controlled TV's First 
Channel (BT) accused the Embassy security office of running a "spy 
ring."  Showing clandestine footage taken during a raid of the 
Embassy's surveillance detection office, BT accused the team of 
collecting intelligence data for the FBI, citing photography 
equipment and thousands of photographs, including some of police and 
buildings.  In interviews with the independent Belapan on March 24 
and Russian-based Interfax on March 28, Charge debunked the 
accusations.  The resulting media coverage highlighted the Embassy's 
rebuttal alongside the BT allegations, and the story has mostly 
faded from public view. 
 
Making the Headlines 
-------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) At the peak of the tension -- the GOB's declaration of ten 
diplomats as personae non gratae on April 30 -- Charge presented the 
USG's side of the story to a packed room of media representatives 
within an hour of receiving the information from the MFA (and before 
anyone in the GOB was available for comment).  Bringing the 
discussion immediately to human rights issues, Charge emphasized 
that "to the United States, the number of American diplomats in 
Belarus is far less important than the number of political 
prisoners."  This quote ran as this top story's headline on several 
independent websites, including as Charter 97 and Naviny.by.  Charge 
hammered the GOB decision as "unprecedented and unjustified."  The 
widely-read tut.by site carried this lead story for two days.  Other 
reports on the press conference, providing the Embassy's viewpoint, 
appeared in the U.S. press -- including the Washington Post, U.S. 
News and World Report, USA Today, the New York Times, Los Angeles 
Times, etc. -- and on international websites from Al Jazeera to 
Xinhua. 
 
Numbers That Count 
------------------ 
 
¶4.  (U) Charge took the opportunity to highlight the Embassy's 
history of strengthening ties with the Belarusian people since 
opening in 1992.  He cited distribution of over USD 270 million in 
humanitarian aid, issuance of over 89,000 visas, 1042 cultural and 
social exchange visits by Belarusian to the U.S., sponsorship of 
study in the U.S. for over 300 students, and contribution of over 
USD 500,000 in books, magazines, audiovisual equipment and internet 
access for American Corners, among others.  Independent web portals 
(Charter 97, Belapan, Radio Liberty), newspapers (Yezhednevnik, 
Nasha Niva), and several radio stations (Belradio, European Radio 
for Belarus) cited these figures in separate articles as part of 
their extensive coverage of the press conference. 
 
Inter-Networking 
---------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) After the departure on May 3 of diplomats declared PNG, an 
event that received extensive international media coverage, Charge 
conducted video-taped, web-based interviews with Radio Liberty's 
Belarusian Service May 5 and with independent portal Belapan May 8. 
Reacting to the suggestion that the USG could levy further sanctions 
if the human rights situation does not improve, several readers 
challenged Charge to explain our sanctions policy.  Emphasizing the 
link with human rights issues, Charge highlighted the fundamental 
similarity of USG policy with the European Union (EU).  He told 
readers that any further sanctions would be the "result of the 
undemocratic nature of the regime" and explained that the goal of 
sanctions was political and economic reform by the GOB.  Various 
independent sources covered our views on sanctions. 
 
¶7.  (U) In the wake of the clarification of sanctions announced May 
15 (when three subsidiaries of state-controlled energy conglomerate 
Belneftekhim were designated by the Office of Foreign Assets 
 
VILNIUS 00000429  002 OF 002 
 
 
Control), post arranged interviews with Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) 
and the Russian-based Vremya Novostey May 19.  During an online 
conference with KP, Charge answered a wide range of questions from 
the Belarusian public, particularly on consular and visa services. 
Charge assured readers that Belarusians, including students 
traveling as part of the Summer Work and Travel (SWT) program, are 
still receiving visas at neighboring embassies in large numbers.  In 
response to concern about cultural programs, Charge underlined 
continued plans for a visit by American jazz musicians, a Hollywood 
classics film festival, and the popular annual "Ambasovishcha" 
festival of Belarusian bands.  The print edition of KP, the most 
widely-read paper in the country, published excerpts related to the 
recent sanctions, including why these enterprises were chosen, how 
that would affect Belarusian image in the U.S. and steps to be taken 
by Belarus for the sanctions to be lifted.  (C/05J/} 
separate stories on each issue. 
 
Not a Bargaining Chip 
--------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Speaking with Vremya Novostey, Charge covered a spectrum of 
timely issues, emphasizing that the Embassy continues to function 
with four diplomats and has no plans to close.  He clarified that 
the United States does not see any link between the number of 
diplomats in Minsk and sanctions.  Rather, he said, the state of 
human rights and in particular the continued detention of three 
political prisoners determined the continuation of sanctions against 
Belneftekhim subsidiaries.  In addition to Vremya Novostey's 
interview, which was printed in full, the story ran under the 
headline "Political Prisoners are Not a Bargaining Chip" and was 
picked up by a number of Belarusian independent websites. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) One of the very few benefits of the regime's demonization 
of the U.S. Embassy has been a great increase in media interest, 
which we have worked to turn to the best possible advantage.  As 
before the diplomatic crisis began, our focus is on answering the 
queries of independent and private media rather than responding to 
the scurrilous attacks of the regime's "journalists."  Our approach 
also contrasts usefully with the surreptitious, closed-door approach 
of the GOB to questions from the press.  As the state-run media 
recently launched another attack, this time against the Embassy's 
Small Grants Program, we will continue to push our message to the 
public as often and effectively as possible.  Interviews are 
scheduled with Interfax June 3 and with Novyye Izvestiya June 4. 
 
MOORE 
CLOUD