Washington, 21 March 1997 (RFE/RL) - State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns yesterday reiterated that the United States is pursuing "a tougher policy" toward Belarus.
Burns told reporters that U.S. policy is one of "selective engagement" on issues of national interest to America.
He said the U.S. doesn't find "much common ground" with the Belorussian government on political and foreign policy issues. He said "we'll have very limited dealings with them."
Burns said there are too many countries around Belarus who are better friends of the U.S. and are more deserving of aid. He said Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Armenia, Azerbaijan are setting a better example than Belarus internationally.