US-Belarus dialogue depends on abolition of sanctions: Belarus foreign ministry
The development of the Belarus-US dialogue will depend on whether economic sanctions against the state petrochemical company Belneftekhim will be lifted or not, Belarus foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Popov said in a statement. "The Belarusian side is not the source of current tensions in Belarus-US relations", Interfax quotes Popov as saying.
In recent developments, Belarus ordered its ambassador in Washington Mikhail Khvostov to return home for consultations. Following "insistent recommendations" from the Belarus foreign ministry, US Ambassador in Minsk Karen Stewart also had to leave Belarus five days later.
The authorities in Belarus also recommended that the US embassy in Minsk reduce its staff. Yesterday, the US Consular Department in Minsk stopped issuing visas to the Belarusian citizens.
In recent developments, Belarus ordered its ambassador in Washington Mikhail Khvostov to return home for consultations. Following "insistent recommendations" from the Belarus foreign ministry, US Ambassador in Minsk Karen Stewart also had to leave Belarus five days later.
The authorities in Belarus also recommended that the US embassy in Minsk reduce its staff. Yesterday, the US Consular Department in Minsk stopped issuing visas to the Belarusian citizens.
