A U.S. Government interagency delegation, including USAID Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Europe and Eurasia Paige Alexander, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Thomas Melia, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Evelyn Farkas, is visiting Minsk September 8-11, 2014.  The group plans on conducting  a wide range of meetings, including with the Foreign Ministry, Ministries of Defense, Education, and the Economy, Diplomatic Corps, civil society, business community, and relatives of political prisoners.  During the visit, among other things, the delegation will explore the possibility for cooperation with Belarus on areas of mutual concern, while reviewing long-standing U.S. concerns on the need for enhanced respect for human rights and democratic norms.