- Title: UK seeking details on passengers who left Belarus plane
- Date: 24th May 2021
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 24, 2021) (REUTERS) BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB WALKING TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "Well, no, and in fact, if you look previously in relation to the action taken after the rigged election, it was the UK that led the way. I do think it's important to coordinate with our international partners. We do that with the Europeans, but also with others, including the Five Eyes (international intelligence alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the United States). What we've seen is an attack on human rights in relation to Mr. Pratasevich, but also an attack on international civil aviation and international common public good. It is most important that the international community stand together, hold to account those who were responsible for these violations of international law and make sure that they never happen again." RAAB DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "In the past, we've led the way and we will continue to do so, but I do think it's important that we coordinate with our international partners to see what is the most effective means and way of applying additional pressure on the Lukashenko regime. We have already subjected 99 individuals and entities to sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans. We're willing to go further. We've led the way in the past, will continue to do so. But if you want to shift what they're doing and saying in Minsk, it helps to have as broad a coalition of like-minded partners taking action." RAAB'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "We speak to all of them. I mean, traditionally, if you look back at what happened previously in relation to the rigged election, if you look at the action we've taken in relation to Alexei Navalny, we coordinate amongst the broadest caucus as we can. That typically includes our European partners and our Five Eyes partners. But actually we want the very broadest group because the more countries standing up, particularly on something like this, where it wasn't just an attack inside Belarus, it was an attack on international civil aviation protected by the Chicago convention, everyone has a stake, if you like, an interest in that key tenet of international law. So we want as many countries as possible to take a stand against the actions and to uphold the international rule of law." CAMERA OPERATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "I can't give you a precise timeframe, we want to look very carefully. With these things, it's very important to get them right rather than to rush to them. The last thing you want is to trip up and give a PR coup to the very people in Minsk who we are seeking to shine a light on." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "Well, in relation to what the European Bank for Reconstruction Development has already done, it touches on sovereign wealth funds, investing in Belarus, so we wouldn't take anything off the table." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "Based on all the circumstances, but we don't know. It is just the proximity of the relationship between Minsk in Moscow." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DOMINIC RAAB, SAYING: "That we're trying to glean all a full picture of what happened and who was involved. That's again another reason why we're talking very closely to our European and other partners."
- Embargoed: 7th June 2021 18:07
- Keywords: Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EEBNG3R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday (May 24) that the West was trying to piece together the full picture of who exactly left the Ryanair plane in Minsk to understand who was involved in the Belarusian jet incident.
"We're trying to glean a full picture of what happened and who was involved," Raab told Reuters. "That's again another reason why we're talking very closely to our European and other partners."
Britain, Raab said, was coordinating with European partners and international intelligence alliance Five Eyes on possible sanctions against Minsk.
"We want as many countries as possible to take a stand against the actions," Raab said.
"I can't give you a precise timeframe. We want to look very carefully. With these things it's very important to get them right rather than to rush ... The last thing you want is to trip up and give a PR coup, to the very people in Minsk who we are seeking to shine a light on."
Asked if Belarusian oil and potash companies and sovereign debt could be the subject of sanctions, he said: "We won't take anything off the table."
He said his comments about possible Russian involvement in the incident were based on the circumstances.
"But we don't know - it is just the proximity of the relationship between Minsk and Moscow."
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