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US envoy arrives in Minsk for talks with Łukašenka
September 15, Pozirk. A US delegation led by John Coale, special envoy for Belarus, has arrived in Minsk for talks with Alaksandar Łukašenka, Pul Pervogo, the Belarusian ruler’s unofficial Telegram channel reports.
Belarusian Prime Minister Alaksandar Turčyn is also expected to take part.
During his previous visit to Minsk in March, Coale secured the release of 250 political prisoners. Fifteen were taken out of the country, while the rest were allowed to stay in Belarus. In return, Washington lifted some sanctions, including those on potash companies.
This time, Coale wants to secure the release of 200 to 300 jailed regime critics, while Łukašenka said he was open to both “small and grand bargains” with the US president, indicating that he was ready to free more prisoners.
“We are open. They have lifted a number of sanctions from our enterprises and are ready to lift more. There are plenty of questions. The embassies. Let’s discuss how to resume [their operation]. Nuclear materials and other matters — there is a whole program in our country, please [let’s talk about it]. You want to buy potash fertilizers from us? If you want, please do,” the Belarusian politician said a few days ago.
He made it clear that Belarus was already loading crop nutrients for shipment to the US and added that he expected US-based Citibank to release some $43–44 million to a company that “cooperated with us,” apparently referring to funds frozen because of sanctions.
Łukašenka’s bargaining chips for Washington: fertilizers, uranium, political prisoners
Belarus is ready to ship potash fertilizers to the United States and cooperate with Washington on nuclear security, Alaksandar Łukašenka said on September 11, days before US Special Envoy John Coale’s visit to Minsk. Ship is being loaded “We are …
