Furthering Our Relationship with Belarus

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Furthering Our Relationship with Belarus 02/01/2020 08:08 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson "The United States is a steadfast supporter of the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Belarus. Respect for human rights and freedoms, as well as the continued development of democratic principles, are key to building prosperous, resilient, and peaceful nations." – Secretary Michael Pompeo, July 3, 2019 The Secretary will travel on February 1 to Minsk, where he will meet with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka and discuss the continuing normalization of bilateral relations and the exchange of ambassadors. The Secretary will also meet with Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei to discuss human rights, economic cooperation, and information sharing on threats to regional and international security. THE UNITED STATES AND BELARUS BUILD CLOSER TIES ON AREAS OF SHARED INTEREST The United States has been a sustained supporter of Belarus. We were one of the first countries to recognize its independence in 1991, and remain strongly committed to a sovereign, stable, prosperous, and independent Belarus. The United States respects Belarus' desire to pursue its own partnerships, to chart its own course, and to play a constructive role in the region. At a time when we are seeing increasing anti-Semitism in Europe, the United States recognizes the efforts of the Belarusian government to acknowledge the atrocities of the past. The United States agrees with Belarus that they must never be repeated. The United States encourages Belarus to continue making progress on human rights and to address the goals outlined in the Belarus Democracy Act. The Belarusian presidential election later this year represents an opportunity to address the spirit of the concerns outlined in the Belarus Democracy Act. Advancing democratic principles will reinforce Belarusian sovereignty and independence, which the United States unequivocally and firmly supports, and pave the way to enhanced bilateral ties. The United States congratulates Belarus on the dynamic growth of its information technology sector, which demonstrates the potential for economic transformation. THE UNITED STATES AND BELARUS COOPERATE ON A RANGE OF BILATERAL ISSUES The United States welcomes Belarus' increased cooperation on issues of non-proliferation, border security, economic cooperation, and information sharing on matters of regional and international security. The Government of Belarus has signed agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Agency to bolster cooperation in fields such as border security, cybersecurity, and counternarcotics. U.S. assistance to Belarus prioritizes respect for human rights, development of a stronger civil society, and freedom of the media. U.S. private sector assistance supports the growth of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the middle class. U.S. assistance programs support vulnerable populations, such as people with disabilities and victims of human trafficking, and strengthen the capacity of non-governmental organizations that provide services. The United States looks forward to a prosperous, bright future for the citizens of Belarus, building on its diverse history, rich culture, vibrant economic potential, and talented people. Stay connected with the State Department:   External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.    Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This email was sent to stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520