“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