BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/04/2009

Lukashenko asks West not to pressure it in matters of S. Ossetia,Abkhazia recognition

MINSK. April 23 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he is surprised by European partners' statements on the possible recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Belarus.

"If Belarus recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia, they say, we will punish it. Well, punish Russia. It has recognized already," Lukashenko said in an annual address to the nation and parliament on Thursday.

Belarus "will honor what it has declared on many occasions," he said.

"East and West must clam down and think for just a second what our internal interests are. Calm down. Allow us to pursue a policy that will be interesting and harmless to all," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko said, turning to the foreign ambassadors, that he might be "talking too squarely to make his point clear."

"I do not want to be reproached after the Prague [Eastern Partnership] summit that what I say differs from what I do. We want to be with Russia and we want to be friends with Europe," he said.

"The only thing we will not tolerate is being forced and pushed in the back like cattle," Lukashenko said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/489937/news.aspx

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