US sanctions can be followed by economic blockade

• 16.05.2008, 16:02

The crisis in the relations between Belarus and the US will exacerbate, Raman Yakauleuski, expert on international affairs, thinks.

Raman Yakauleuski told in an interview to EuroRadio he predicts the economic blockade can follow the sanctions.

“Judging by the behaviour of Lukashenka and Belarusian officials, there is a tendency to further exacerbation of crisis, not its resolving,” Raman Yakauleuski says.

According to him, the head of Belarus doesn’t know the word ‘compromise.’ As a result, strengthening of sanctions can lead to very negative consequences for the country.

“The fact that the Belarus Democracy Act will be amended for the third time next month says about a perspective of real economic blockade, not speaking about more severe sanctions,” Raman Yakauleuski thinks.

It should be reminded that the US Department of the Treasury designates three new enterprises in addition to the economic sanctions against Belneftekhim company, imposed in November 2007. These enterprises are the Belarusian Oil Trade House, Lakokraska OAO, (Lida, the Hrodna region) and Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO. They are included into the list of persons and entities, subject to the US sanctions.