BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/01/2007

Analyst: Yushchenko has no arguments for joint Kiev-Minsk play against Moscow

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko does not have enough arguments to implement a scenario of joint Kiev-Minsk play against Moscow. Opportunities of such kind are now in the hands of the Ukrainian government, which has its own opinion on how to work with Russia, Ukrainian analyst, head of the Kiev Center for Political Studies and Conflictology Mikhail Pogrebinsky believes. He made the statement commenting to a REGNUM correspondent on possible participation of Ukraine in the Belarusian-Russian conflict. "Thus, I am sure such Kiev's demarche is impossible," the expert says.

"Another thing, that in a disclosed manner the Ukrainian government can have its say in the situation. It is hard to say how, but Russia has a problem, and it is serious enough, and Ukraine can play on it proposing to Russia its opportunities in exchange for something," the political analyst continued. According to Mikhail Pogrebinsky, "Kiev, in case of correct negotiation process with Moscow, can gain some bonuses at least in the form of giving its transit resources if the conflict continues. Thus, Ukraine can show itself as a helpful partner in a difficult situation for Russia and Europe as well."

Speaking about a phone talk of the Ukrainian and Belarusian leaders, the political analyst said that "from Yushchenko's side it was mostly a pose - that he as he says is concerned with Europe's energy problems." "It is a game for [creating] the image of a European, expression of concern: in the hard time for Europe I do not sleep well and something is to be decided not to offend the European Union," the expert said noting that in case there is a personal meeting of Yushchenko and Lukashenko and their discussion of "lofty topics," real agreements will not affect anything.

Source:

http://www.regnum.ru/english/764596.html