BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Ukraine PM Heads To Belarus For Talks On Economic Ties

KIEV (AP)--Ukraine's prime minister headed to Belarus Tuesday in the first visit by a senior Ukrainian official to the neighboring ex-Soviet republic since last year's Orange Revolution.

Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov planned a day of meetings with his Belarusian counterpart, Sergei Sidorsky, which Ukraine hopes will strengthen economic ties between the nations.

Ukrainian officials have begun calls for an end to Belarus' political isolation, while at the same time insisting that they are still united with Europe in its demands that Minsk stop cracking down on dissent and free speech. Last month, Ukraine offered to help mediate between Belarus and the European Union but was rebuffed by the authoritarian Belarusian leadership.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the West of plotting to overthrow him in protests similar to the Orange Revolution, which ushered the pro-western Ukrainian opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, into office last year. Belarus holds presidential elections next year.

Lukashenko's regime has been regularly condemned by the E.U. and the U.S. for its attacks on the media, minority activists and religion leaders. The Belarusian leader continues to receive solid support from neighboring Russia.

Source:

http://www.thebusinessonline.com/DJStory.aspx?DJStoryID=20051018DN001992