U.S. Embassy Statement in Response to February 29 MFA Press Secretary Comments

March 5, 2012
Minsk, Belarus

The United States Embassy regrets February 29 comments on TUT.BY made by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, which contain incorrect and misleading information concerning operations of the US Embassy in Minsk.

After Belarus in 2008 unilaterally reduced its diplomatic presence in the US from 17 to 5 diplomats, the American Embassy in Minsk was mandated by the Belarusian government to reduce its staff from 35 to five diplomats.

This unilateral step by the Belarusian government, which it continues to enforce, has greatly impeded the U.S. Embassy's ability to carry out mutually beneficial diplomatic programs and activities, including cultural and educational exchanges, assistance programs, as well as making it technically impossible to maintain full visa services. None of these unfortunate and unnecessary outcomes are the result of a “unilateral step” by the United States, as the MFA Press Secretary stated regarding consular and visa services.