Western sanctions meant to strangle Belarusian economy, erode people's living standards - Belarus' envoy to UN

MINSK. March 3 (Interfax) - Sanctions imposed on Belarus are aimed at strangling the country's economy, Belarusian Permanent Representative to the UN Valentin Rybakov said.

"As their reaction to the events in Ukraine, some countries habitually resorted to their favorite instrument - sanctions... The sanctions that have been announced are no longer pinpointed. Rather, they are aimed at strangling the economy and eroding people's standards of living," Rybakov said during the final part of the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly. His statement was published on the website of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

"Some of them even went as far as declaring an economic war. The sanctions that are being introduced today are the worst manifestation of economic and financial terrorism," the diplomat said.