Drazdy conflict
Encyclopedia
The Drazdy conflict was an incident in July 1998 involving the Government
of Belarus
and diplomats from other nations. It began by the leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko
declaring the Drazdy Complex as property of the government and shutting it down for repairs. The problem was that many diplomats, especially from Western nation-states, called the complex home. Though Lukashenko tried to negotiate a situation with the Western powers, such as France
and Germany
by appointing Uladzimir Herasimovich for talks, it was not solved in time. In protest of the incident, the United States temporarily recalled its ambassador, Daniel V. Speckhard
, who spent one year back in Washington before returning to Belarus. One of the results of the incident was that the European Union
issued Lukashenko and approximately 130 other government officials with travel bans that prevent them from traveling to fourteen of the then-fifteen EU states. This also began to lead the United States
and non-EU states to issue similar bans (the United States has an exemption for visits to the United Nations
headquarters in New York City
, New York by the banned officials). According to ITAR-TASS and BelPAN, the Drazdy Complex is now used as a residence for the president and the evicted diplomats were given new locations inside Minsk with the help of Lukashenko.
Government of Belarus
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus is the executive branch of state power in Belarus, and it is appointed by the President of Belarus...
of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
and diplomats from other nations. It began by the leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
declaring the Drazdy Complex as property of the government and shutting it down for repairs. The problem was that many diplomats, especially from Western nation-states, called the complex home. Though Lukashenko tried to negotiate a situation with the Western powers, such as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by appointing Uladzimir Herasimovich for talks, it was not solved in time. In protest of the incident, the United States temporarily recalled its ambassador, Daniel V. Speckhard
Daniel V. Speckhard
Daniel V. Speckhard is a United States diplomat who is formerly the United States Ambassador to Greece.-Early life and education:Born in Clintonville, Wisconsin, Speckhard received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison as well as a Masters Degree in Public Policy and...
, who spent one year back in Washington before returning to Belarus. One of the results of the incident was that the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
issued Lukashenko and approximately 130 other government officials with travel bans that prevent them from traveling to fourteen of the then-fifteen EU states. This also began to lead the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and non-EU states to issue similar bans (the United States has an exemption for visits to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
headquarters in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York by the banned officials). According to ITAR-TASS and BelPAN, the Drazdy Complex is now used as a residence for the president and the evicted diplomats were given new locations inside Minsk with the help of Lukashenko.