Bush instructs diplomats to maintain contacts with Belarusian dissidents
U.S.
President George W. Bush has recently issued a directive instructing all senior
U.S.
officials serving in undemocratic countries to maintain regular contact with
political dissidents and democracy activists, BelaPAN reported.
Speaking in
Washington on July 24, the U.S. president expressed support for political
prisoners who stand for democracy in Cuba,
Belarus, Iran and North Korea. "The challenge
for future presidents and future Congresses is to ensure that America always
stands with those seeking freedom -- and never hesitates to shine the light of
conscience on abuses of human rights across the world," he said.
"We
stand with Olga Kozulina. Her father, Alexander Kozulin, remains in prison in Belarus for the
'crime' of running for president," Bush said.
