US top official in Minsk
Phillip Gordon, US Deputy Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, has arrived in Minsk with an official visit.
In the morning, he met with civil society leaders and will have more meetings at the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ahead of the visit, Gordon said that the United States would lift sanctions agains Belarus after there is more freedom for opposition activists, the press and NGOs in Belarus.
He noted the steps of the Belarusian authorities, the release of political prisoners in particular. He said that those steps made his visit to Belarus possible.
Gordon also said that Washington was prepared to send an ambassador to Minsk, but "the ball is on the side of the Belarusian authorities".
In the morning, he met with civil society leaders and will have more meetings at the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ahead of the visit, Gordon said that the United States would lift sanctions agains Belarus after there is more freedom for opposition activists, the press and NGOs in Belarus.
He noted the steps of the Belarusian authorities, the release of political prisoners in particular. He said that those steps made his visit to Belarus possible.
Gordon also said that Washington was prepared to send an ambassador to Minsk, but "the ball is on the side of the Belarusian authorities".
