BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/04/2009

Belarus' Hardline Interior Minister Resigns

MINSK, Belarus (AFP)--Belarus President Alexander Lukaschenko accepted Monday the resignation of his hardline interior minister Vladimir Naumov, in what was seen as a new gesture to improve ties with Europe.

The presidential press office said Naumov had quit for "health reasons," without elaborating.

Naumov was one of those blamed for the disappearance of opponents of the Lukashenko regime in a report compiled for the Council of Europe in 2004.

"Lukashenko wants to move closer to Europe," independent analyst Alexander Klaskovski said. "The figure of Naumov annoyed the Europeans."

He pointed out that other officials also named in the report for the pan- European rights body - which doesn't include Belarus - had already been fired.

"Naumov's dismissal will please the Europeans while avoiding steps towards democracy in Belarus which the West is demanding," Klaskovski added.

The former Soviet republic, long a close ally of Russia, has recently seen an improvement in its relations with the European Union and the U.S.

It has reached out to the West for help amid the global economic crisis, with the International Monetary Fund in January approving an emergency loan of $2.46 billion to Minsk.

Last month the E.U. decided to maintain a suspension of sanctions on Belarus, including a travel ban on Lukashenko and other officials, for nine more months and is toying with including the country in an "Eastern partnership" scheme.

Source:

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20090406\ACQDJON200904060938DOWJONESDJONLINE000268.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Belarus%27%20Hardline%20Interior%20Minister%20Resigns

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