BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

2005-08-06

Belarus defiant in row with Poland and EU

MINSK, Belarus

Belarus defied protests from Poland and the European Union on Thursday, saying it would insist on the election of new leaders to an association of ethnic Poles. Relations between Belarus under President Alexander Lukashenko and Poland are at their worst since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, after tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and a row over the rights of 400,000 ethnic Poles in Belarus.

Stanislav Buko, head of the Belarus's State Committee on Religion and Nationalities, said the authorities want to initiate a new convention of the 20,000 member association and elect a new leadership.

The row between the two Slav neighbors broke out in May when Lukashenko, who has been criticized by the U.S. as the "last dictator in Europe," accused Warsaw of plotting an uprising against him by using the Polish minority.

Belarussian authorities have arrested several activists of the association and stormed its offices, prompting protests from Warsaw and Brussels. Poland has recalled its ambassador from Minsk while the EU has expressed deep concern and called on the authorities to respect minority rights.

Source:

http://www.etaiwannews.com/World/2005/08/06/1123301048.htm