BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/07/2009

Belarus Wants Closer Ties With Caspian States

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is calling for closer ties with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in a move widely slated in the Russian press as a provocation to Moscow.

"It is not the task of politicians at this stage," Russian-language news agencies quoted him as saying on July 24 in reference to the Belarus-Caspian partnership. "We have already done our part. Ministries and concrete enterprises should do this work now."

Lukashenka did not elaborate about what such a partnership would entail.

Lukashenka reportedly said that the three Caspian Sea basin states' vast hydrocarbon reserves will only increase the countries' strategic importance with time. Direct comments were not provided.

According to Russian news agency Prime-Tass, Lukashenka's comments mark the intensification of a political rift between Minsk and the Kremlin.

Earlier this week, in a clear challenge to Russia, Belarus told its citizens that they may only enter the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia through Georgia.

Source:

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav072409a.shtml

Latest News

Archive

Month, Year July, 2009June, 2009May, 2009April, 2009March, 2009February, 2009January, 2009December, 2008November, 2008October, 2008September, 2008August, 2008July, 2008June, 2008May, 2008April, 2008March, 2008February, 2008 January, 2008 December, 2007 November, 2007 October, 2007 September, 2007 August, 2007 July, 2007 June, 2007 May, 2007 April, 2007 March, 2007 February, 2007 January, 2007 December, 2006 November, 2006 October, 2006 September, 2006 August, 2006 July, 2006 June, 2006 May, 2006 April, 2006 March, 2006 February, 2006 January, 2006 December, 2005 November, 2005 October, 2005 September, 2005 August, 2005 July, 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005

Subscribe Daily Newsletter:

Enter your Email


Powered by FeedBlitz

Belarus News and Analysis Donate: