Letter to Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affiars and Security Policy, European Union

Letter

Senators Call for Strong Joint U.S.-European Response to Belarus Crackdown on One Month Election Anniversary

On December 19, 2010, Belarus held presidential elections that were widely condemned as fraudulent. In their wake, Belarusian security forces launched a violent crackdown against the political opposition, journalists, and civil society, including four presidential candidates who remain detained to this day.

In response to the Belarusian crackdown, a bipartisan coalition of Senators sent a letter to the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, urging a strong, principled, joint U.S.-EU response.

The letter--written by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), John McCain (R-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Robert Casey (D-PA)--urges transatlantic cooperation to secure the immediate release of all opposition candidates and party leaders; impose targeted sanctions on the leaders of the Lukashenko regime and, where warranted, family members; and offering increased support for the Belarusian people, including political and civil society groups.

"Through violence, repression, and outright fraud, the Lukashenko regime has once again confirmed its brutal, dictatorial character and made a mockery of democracy," said Senator Lieberman. "We urge our European partners to join together with the United States in reaffirming our shared conviction that the Belarusian people deserve the freedom to choose their future for themselves."

"The Lukashenko regime is the main impediment to the long-standing vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace," said Senator McCain. "The transatlantic alliance must be indivisible in supporting the people of Belarus in realizing their peaceful democratic aspirations."

"The continued detention of political and civil society leaders and the use of violence against peaceful protestors are deplorable on any continent," said Senator Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. "The Lukashenko regime must halt its authoritarian crackdown and free its political prisoners immediately without conditions. It is critical that the U.S. and Europe stand together as partners to advance the cause of democracy in Belarus and stand side-by-side with the Belarusian people."

"The violence and brutality carried out by authorities in Belarus since the presidential election is deplorable," said Senator Lugar. "Forging a unified response with our allies and partners in Europe will be essential."

"The U.S government and European Union have emphatically called for the unconditional release of all detained opposition leaders. Last week in Minsk, I reiterated that call," said Senator Durbin. "The Belarusian government must release all detainees and resume the path toward democracy. If Belarus expects to be part of the world community and expects an improvement of relations with the West, basic human rights and electoral standards must be respected."

"The U.S. and Europe need to stand in solidarity with courageous democracy and human rights activists who have struggled for too long in Belarus, the last dictatorship in Europe," said Senator Casey. "We need to support these individuals during this dark time in the history of Belarus."

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear High Representative Ashton:

We are writing to express our conviction in the importance of a strong, principled, joint response by the European Union and the United States to the crackdown in Belarus. We were deeply encouraged by the joint statement that you and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued last month condemning the brutal actions of the Belarusian government in the wake of the December 19 presidential election and by the joint statement you again issued earlier this month in response to the closing of the OSCE Mission in Minsk. We think that such close transatlantic coordination is absolutely essential. To the greatest extent possible, the United States and the European Union must speak with one voice to the government and the people of Belarus.

For this same reason, we also believe that the strong words issued by the United States and the EU in recent weeks should be followed by equally strong transatlantic actions that will carry very real and significant consequences for President Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials who are responsible for the human rights abuses, palpable fraud that characterized last month's elections, and the continued detention of opposition presidential candidates and party leaders. Specifically, this should include both increased sanctions on the regime, and increased support for the Belarusian people.

As you know, in October 2008, the European Union suspended certain sanctions on senior Belarusian officials, in the hope of cultivating better relations with Minsk and encouraging greater democratic freedom in Belarus. Given the outrageous conduct of the Lukashenko regime in recent weeks, we hope that the European Union will now swiftly re-impose targeted sanctions on the leaders of Belarus, including both an asset freeze and a travel ban, as well as on the family members of regime leaders, where warranted.

We believe it is important, however, for additional measures to be put in place as well. In particular, we urge the European Union to join the United States in prohibiting business with Belneftekhim, a state-controlled conglomerate that is critical to the financial well-being of President Lukashenko's regime. Since the European Union constitutes the primary market for Belneftekhim, joint EU-U.S. sanctions would send a powerful message to President Lukashenko that the transatlantic community will no longer tolerate his brutal practices and policies.

In addition to heightened sanctions, the United States and the EU should also work together to secure the immediate release of all opposition candidates and party leaders as well as to express unambiguous solidarity with the many other brave Belarusians who are now looking to the transatlantic world for strength and support. We have been deeply encouraged by the leadership of the Polish government in this respect, and hope that the rest of the transatlantic community will follow Warsaw's example. In particular, we believe the EU and U.S. should restore and increase both material and technical support for political, civil society, and human rights groups in Belarus. As you know, such support had been a central pillar of U.S. and EU policy towards Belarus prior to last year's attempts at engagement with the Lukashenko regime. The Belarusian people must now know that the European Union and the United States stand united and on their side in their struggle for freedom, and that we are prepared to lend them tangible and significant support in order to help them achieve it.

We thank you for your consideration of these pressing matters.

Best regards,

Joe Lieberman

John McCain

Jeanne Shaheen

Richard Lugar

Richard Durbin

Robert Casey

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