The government of Belarus has requested Washington D.C. to close the United States (U.S.) embassy’s Public Diplomacy and USAID offices, including the American Centre, in Minsk.
The U.S. Special Envoy on Belarus, Julie Fisher, said this on Friday.
“On October 29, the Belarusian authorities informed the United States (U.S.) of new measures designed to impede the functioning of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk.
“The new measures are by forcing the closure of the embassy’s Public Diplomacy and USAID offices, including the American Centre in Minsk.
“The Belarusian authorities are forcing the embassy to terminate the employment of more than 20 Belarusian members of our staff,’’ Fisher said.
According to her, these actions reflect the deep insecurities of authorities of Belarus about the role of diplomacy, people-to-people ties and independent civil society.
“The U.S. will not be deterred from its commitment to helping advance democracy and human rights in Belarus and to supporting the aspirations of the Belarusian people.
“The support will help them to build a more promising future in a free and independent Belarus.
“Neither these will in recent measures cause us to abandon the outreach and engagement that have benefitted the Belarusian people and which have advanced the relations between our citizens,’’ she added.
