New U.S. charge d'affaires arrives in Belarus amid signs of warming ties
Xinhua, August 23, 2016 Adjust font size:
New U.S. charge d'affaires to Belarus Bob Riley has arrived in Minsk, the U.S. embassy said on Monday.
His predecessor, former head of the U.S. mission in Minsk Scott Rauland, left Belarus on July 8, after discussing with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko the resumption of ambassador-level diplomatic ties.
Since 2008, Belarus has not had a U.S. ambassador. Relations between Minsk and Washington deteriorated after the United States imposed economic restrictions on companies in Belarus.
Belarus recalled its ambassador to the United States and reduced its diplomatic presence there. The U.S. embassy in Minsk was also downsized at the insistence of the Belarusian side in March 2008.
At a meeting with Rauland on the eve of his departure from Minsk, Lukashenko said he saw improvements in the bilateral relations.
The U.S. diplomat voiced hope that the two sides could resume discussions about the return of a U.S. ambassador to Belarus after the U.S. presidential election in November. Endi