MINSK, June 30 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus is ready to restore diplomatic relations with the United States if sanctions are lifted, President Alexander Lukashenko told a U.S. Congressional delegation in Minsk on Tuesday.
"Belarus is ready to return to talks on restoring a mutual full-fledged diplomatic presence on the condition of a full cancelation, on a legislative level, of sanctions imposed against our country and of their legal basis - the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act," he said.
Washington imposed sanctions against Belarus's state-controlled petrochemicals company Belneftekhim and froze assets of its U.S. subsidiary in 2007, adding to travel bans and asset freezes for senior officials including Lukashenko, introduced in 2006 over human rights abuses and a lack of democracy.
In response, Belarus expelled the U.S. ambassador and recalled its ambassador from the U.S., while saying Washington must cut the number of its embassy employees.
The United States and the European Union, which also froze officials' assets but eased the travel bans last year due to improvements in the political climate in Belarus, have in the past accused Lukashenko of clamping down on dissent, stifling the media and rigging elections.
Lukashenko also said: "It's time to withdraw from the old schemes and stereotypes and look at our relations anew."
The Belarusian leader, once dubbed by Washington "Europe's last dictator," said Belarus hopes a new page will be opened in bilateral relations following the Congress delegation's visit. He said Belarus is a responsible partner of the United States in fighting international crime, drug trafficking and human trade.
