Internationally isolated Belarus on Sunday received unexpected support from the Vatican, when visiting Cardinal Tarciso
Bertone criticized US-imposed economic sanctions against the former Soviet
republic.
Bertone, the Secretary of State for the Vatican, celebrated a mass attended by
thousands in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, a stronghold of the Russian
Orthodox Church, the Interfax news agency reported.
Attending the service were representatives from Western governments as well as
many dignitaries from the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
"Sanctions against Belarus is inappropriate because they affect its people
first," Bertone told journalists.
The US imposed sanctions on Belarus for continuous human rights violations.
"Problems between two states should be resolved through dialogue,"
said Bertone, adding that he had "positive and brotherly" talks with
the Minsk leadership during a visit that laid the foundation for the
development of positive diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
The service by Bertone ended his official visit to Belarus in what is seen as
an attempt to build bridges between the West and the East.
The country's authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, in a meeting with
Bertone also invited Pope Benedict the XVI to Minsk.
The population of Belarus is approximately 80 per cent Russian Orthodox, and 15
per cent Catholic, dpa reported.
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