(1 May 2008)
1. Mid of United States State Department Deputy spokesman Tom Casey walking to lectern
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Casey, United States State Department Deputy spokesman:
"As you know, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry told our charge yesterday that a number of American diplomats - ten, to be exact, had been declared persona non grata. For those of you that are not familiar with the term of art, that's basically a 'you're not wanted here; time to go home' order. They were asked to leave Minsk within 72-hours. Since that constitutes a formal demand for our diplomats to leave, we're going to comply with that deadline given to us."
3. Cutaway of reporter
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Casey, United States State Department Deputy spokesman:
"We strongly object to this measure; there is no justification for it; and we have to consider, then, how we are going to be able to conduct diplomatic functions in Belarus after that point. There certainly are a number of steps, and we have told them that we are considering the full range of options in terms of our respective diplomatic presences. But at this point, we have not made any formal decisions to reduce staff beyond what this requirement has been because of their decision to PNG (persona non grata) our personnel."
5. Cutaway of reporter
STORYLINE:
The United States has put off a decision to order the closure of the Belarusian embassy in Washington and consulate in New York just minutes before US diplomats were to inform Belarus of the move on Thursday, US officials said.
The US State Department had planned to notify Belarus of the step, which had been approved by US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, in both Washington and Minsk.
But officials said they were instructed not to do so at the last minute.
The change in plan came as a meeting between US and Belarusian diplomats was under way, officials said.
The moves were delayed to give Belarus time to consider reversing the expulsions, according to officials.
The change in plan came so late that the top US diplomat in Belarus, Charge D'Affaires Jonathan Moore, was already at the Foreign Ministry in Minsk to make the notification when he was told to stand down, according to three State Department officials.
Instead, US State Department Deputy spokesman, Tom Casey said the diplomats had warned that such steps were possible as Washington continues to explore ways to retaliate for Belarus' expulsion of most of the US Embassy staff in Minsk.
During a state department briefing on Thursday, Casey explained the situation.
"As you know, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry told our charge yesterday that a number of American diplomats - ten, to be exact, had been declared persona non grata.....that's basically a 'you're not wanted here; time to go home' order," Casey told reporters.
Minsk was told that the United States would withdraw its diplomats in the 72 hours required by Belarus.
Casey said the request "constitutes a formal demand for our diplomats to leave," and said US authorities would comply with the deadline.
However, the "strongly object to this measure," and are considering "a full range" of retaliatory measures Casey said.
Casey would not elaborate on what measures might be taken in what has become a major feud between the United States and the former Soviet republic, a frequent target of US criticism on human rights.
But, the State Department had been set to give Belarus a May 16 deadline to withdraw its six diplomats at its embassy in Washington and consulate in New York, officials said.
That order would have closed both missions.
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