MFA Press Secretary Andrei Savinykh replies when asked by the media on the countermeasures in response to U.S. sanctions

The Belarusian side regards the U.S. Government decision to impose economic restrictions on Belarus as an unjustified and unlawful act.

This is a politically motivated decision which contradicts international obligations of the U.S.

The U.S. move is an egregious violation of the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 pursuant to which the Unites States of America undertook not to use measures of economic coercion toward the Republic of Belarus.

The U.S. also violated the Helsinki Final Act committing all states to “refrain in all circumstances from any act of economic coercion designed to subordinate to its own interest the exercise by another participating State of the rights inherent in its sovereignty”.

The U.S. action also conflicts with the UN General Assembly resolution 62/183, which sets forth that “no state may use or encourage the use of unilateral economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another state in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights”.

The imposition of new sanctions is contrary to the spirit of interaction and cooperation. Under these circumstances, the Belarusian side has decided to suspend talks with the American side on the project of the exchange of high-enriched nuclear fuel for the low-enriched under the Global Threat Reduction Initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy. Also suspended is the Belarus’ participation in the realization of a project to establish MBA program at the Belarusian State University.

Belarus continues to maintain physical nuclear protection in strict compliance with its international obligations in the area of nonproliferation.

Taking other reciprocal measures is not ruled out.

Halting by the United States of its measures of economic coercion toward Belarus and restoration of a normal climate in our relationship may lead to resumption of cooperation on these projects. 

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