Yakauleuski: 'Afghan transit' has spared Lukashenka from US sanctions
Political commentator Raman Yakauleuski tells Euroradio one should not expect a political thaw in US-Belarus relations despite lifted sanctions.
This is how Raman Yakauleuski who follows Belarus' foreign policy in Minsk has assesed the recent move by the United States not to extend economic sanctions against the weapon trading firm Beltekhexport and optics maker BelOMO from Belarus.
In the view of Mr Yakauleuski, the United States has taken a 'super pragmatic' decision.
Yakauleuski: "The so called transit to Afghanistan of which Belarus is a part has played a huge role behind the decision not to extend the sanctions. I am talking about the Baltics-Belarus-Russia-Central Asia-Afghanistan channel. Belarus takes part in this channel due to its geographica position. And this leverage on the US was recommended by those famous analysts from Jamestown Foundation who were here in Minsk and met with Lukashenka".
Four pundits from Jamestown Foundation visited Belarus in the begining of 2013. In the view of Mr Yakauleuski, they advised Belarus to participate in the transit of U.S. troops after their exit from Afghanistan in 2014.
The political commentator believes this move by the United States will not affect the Belarus-EU relations.
Yakauleuski: "In my view, it has a huge negative impact on Europe as well. Americans used to take a more rigid stance with regard to the sanctions in their policy towards the Lukashenka regime. In this case, it will produce a very strong moral and psychological impact."
Photo: 5min.by
