Moscow Times - 04.16.2003

 

 

 

 

The Moscow Times

U.S. Lifts Belarus Ban 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States followed the lead of 14 European countries and lifted a travel ban imposed last November on Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and seven top ministers over human rights violations. 

The U.S. State Department's deputy spokesman, Philip Reeker, said the United States and the European Union remained seriously concerned with the continuing deterioration of democracy in Belarus. 

But, Reeker said, the travel ban was lifted in response to Belarus' cooperation in establishing an office in Minsk for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.