US embassy cable - 05MINSK1404

UNCLAS MINSK 001404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SOCI, BO 
SUBJECT: GOB: "We're Peaceful, Friendly" 
 
REF: MINSK 1384 
 
1. Summary and comment: In recent weeks Belarusian state owned 
television has aired several hostile and tendentious "news" 
programs accusing U.S. diplomats of espionage, orchestrating the 
political opposition, and trying to destabilize Belarus.  State 
owned newspapers have carried similar stories (reftel).  GOB 
officials have also publicly accused the United States of 
conducting a "propaganda war" and of trying to overthrow the 
Belarusian government.  These acts are clearly Belarusian 
propaganda aimed at manipulating the upcoming presidential 
elections.  The Embassy formally complained about such vitriolic 
and irresponsible statements in a letter from the Ambassador to the 
Foreign Minister and in a diplomatic note.  The GOB replied in a 
diplomatic note that Belarus is a "peaceful" state seeking 
"friendly" relations with everyone.  However, the note regrets the 
"systematic highly offensive, false and provocative allegations and 
actions of the U.S. highest officials toward Belarus [sic]."  End 
summary and comment. 
 
2. Begin text of Belarusian response (presented in English): 
 
Note No. 12-06/25650-H 
Minsk, 11 November 2005 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus presents 
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in 
the Republic of Belarus and referring to H.E. Ambassador George 
Krol's letter dated 27 October 2005 and Embassy's Note N 316/05 
dated 28 October 2005 has the honor to inform the Embassy that the 
Republic of Belarus is conducting a peaceful foreign policy aimed 
at forming and developing in-depth friendly relations with all 
states ready for equal and mutually respectful dialogue. 
 
During the meeting of the Security Council of the Republic of 
Belarus on 30 September 2005 the President of the Republic of 
Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated that there is no direct 
security threat to Belarus.  Not giving up its national interest in 
the sphere of security the Republic of Belarus is striving for 
partnership relations with all countries, international 
organizations and alliances without any exclusion. 
 
The republic of Belarus rejects information wars as a tool to 
achieve foreign policy goals.  We note with regret that systematic 
highly offensive, false and provocative allegations and actions of 
the U.S. highest officials toward Belarus and its leadership do not 
contribute to creation of confidence and productive bilateral co- 
operation between Belarus and the United States on these 
principles. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity 
to renew to the Embassy of the United States of American in the 
Republic of Belarus the assurances of its high consideration. 
 
End text. 
 
3. Begin text of U.S. diplomatic note of October 28: 
 
No. 316/05 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its 
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of 
Belarus and has the honor to draw the Ministry's attention to the 
statements of Belarusian State Security Committee deputy chairman, 
Vasily Dementey as reported in the attached Interfax report dated 
October 27.  The Unites State Government finds the comments of this 
representative of Belarusian security services to deputies of the 
Belarusian parliament highly offensive, false and provocative.  The 
United States is not seeking and has never sought the 
destabilization of Belarus by any means let alone "up to the point 
of intervention," as the BKGB deputy chairman allegedly said. 
 
The United States wishes to protest these comments and request 
clarification from the Ministry whether they represent the views of 
the government of Belarus.  Such statements by a Belarusian 
official would only further the destructive course the government 
of Belarus is taking toward relations with the United States and 
the other nations mentioned in the referenced press statements. 
Moreover, these statements negatively influence Belarusian 
society's attitude toward the United States and these other 
countries, who only desire Belarus to become a democratic, 
peaceful, prosperous country enjoying the best of relations with 
its neighbors and the broader world community.  The United States 
has always, and continues to, respect the independence, sovereignty 
and territorial integrity of Belarus. 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of the 
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assurances 
of its highest consideration. 
 
End text. 
 
4. Begin text of letter from Ambassador to Foreign Minister 
Martynov (translated from Belarusian): 
 
Embassy of the United State of America 
Minsk, October 28, 2005 
 
I am attaching a copy of the article published in the state 
newspaper Gomelskaya Pravda last month.  I believe it is worthy of 
your attention, being a typical example of the creative work by the 
Belarusian state mass media.  These articles, along with a number 
of other recent newspaper publications and TV reports, caused a 
feeling of disgust in my colleagues and myself.  The article 
describes normal activities carried out by diplomatic missions in 
every country, activities that are aimed at getting to know a 
country better and establishing contacts with a broad range of 
Belarusians, activities that the Belarusian leadership and you in 
particular have always encouraged us to do, as "cover." 
 
It seems to me that such publications insult the Belarusian people 
in the first place, who, to my understanding, as taxpayers provide 
funding for most of the Belarusian media. 
 
The hysteric and groundless anti-American rhetoric of the article 
almost surpasses the propaganda of the USSR during the Cold War.  I 
am convinced that the authors, editors and curators of the 
Belarusian state media are well aware than the Cold War is over. 
However, they for some reason think it possible to convey exactly 
the opposite idea to well-educated Belarusian people.  To my mind, 
the article in question is intended to intimidate Belarusians and 
prevent them from any contact with American diplomats. 
 
I deem it necessary to once again dismiss any allegations made by 
the Belarusian leadership that the American government and American 
press has conducted a virulently anti-Belarusian campaign. 
 
It is hard to see that such crude, self-destructive approaches by 
the Belarusian authorities are aimed at anything else but self- 
isolation.  It is unfortunate that this is happening in light of 
your constant affirmations to seek normal relations with the 
American people and government. 
 
End text. 
 
KROL