U.S. Prepared To Re-establish Relations with Belarus

Sept. 15—In a five-hour meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko Sept. 10, Trump Special Envoy John Cole presented him with a personal letter from U.S. President Donald Trump. He had signed it merely “Donald,” which Cole indicated to be highly unusual and “a sign of special friendship.” The letter reads: “Dear Mr. Lukashenko, Melania joins me in sending our best wishes on the occasion of your birthday…. We are especially pleased to acknowledge Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka’s tremendous win at the U.S. Open in New York. She represents the very best of your country, and we know you must be proud of her accomplishments…. We pray for your health and well-being, as well as continued progress toward our shared goals on behalf of the peoples of the United States and Belarusian people.”

Lukashenko has served as an indirect mediator in the U.S.-Russia relationship. Trump called him just before his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage.

Lukashenko thanked Trump for his efforts to establish peace in the region. “It doesn’t matter whether he has stopped seven, six wars or conflicts. He has stopped quite a few conflicts,” Lukashenko said. “I say this as a historian and as a President who has been in office for a long time: no President of the United States of America has made as many efforts or such efforts to ensure peace on the planet. I think you will figure out the economy and tariffs yourselves... Nevertheless, John,” he told the special envoy, “I am grateful to your friend Donald for the efforts he is carrying out in world politics today.”

In a related move, Trump also lifted the sanctions on the Belarusian airline Belavia. Cole indicated in his discussions, that the U.S. was considering re-establishing its Embassy in Minsk. Lukashenko, in deference to the wishes of President Trump, released 14 more prisoners, who had been involved in various types of insurgency. They have been allowed to leave the country. Lukashenko also indicated that the people in jail were not arrested for political reasons, but for actual criminal activities. He said, however, that he would be prepared to release all of them if the U.S. were prepared to take them. Some of those released were Lithuanians, and they have been allowed to return to Lithuania.

In comments to the press after the meeting, Cole said that he had had conversations with President Trump the day before and that the United States was now prepared to begin the process of re-establishing diplomatic and economic relations with Belarus. He could not give dates for when an ambassador would be appointed, but it was clearly the direction in which developments were moving. He also said that his relationship with President Lukashenko was very good and that the two would even joke with each other during their long discussions.