Minsk threatens retaliatory measures over new U.S. sanctions
MINSK. Aug 12 (Interfax) - Minsk could take "adequate" measures in response to Washington's decision to impose sanctions on four state-owned enterprises in Belarus, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh told journalists on Friday.
"The Belarusian side retains the right to take adequate retaliatory measures," he said.
"We view the steps taken by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as one more missed opportunity for the American side to display common sense and to scrap this confrontation-driven approach in our relations," Savinykh said.
Regrettably, "the U.S. administration's actions are restricted by out-dated sanction-based cliches, leading only to a deadlock," he said.
"Amid today's growing financial and budget crisis, which has been complicated by a crisis of American society's trust toward the authorities, Washington continues taking measures that primarily harm the interests of American businessmen, who have been cooperating with Belarusian producers successfully," Savinykh said.
The new U.S. sanctions apply to the Belarusian car tire manufacturer Belshina, the fertilizer producer Grodno Azot, the fiber manufacturing enterprise Grodno Khimvolokno and Naftan, a key crude oil refinery.
These enterprises are controlled by the state-owned petrochemical company Belneftekhim, which also faces U.S. sanctions.
The new sanctions were introduced in addition to travel restrictions, decisions to freeze assets and other sanctions announced on January 31 in relation to persons responsible for repression in Belarus following the December 19 presidential elections, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Minsk said.