BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/10/2007

Belarus: We're no anti-Semites

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko denied that there is anti-Semitism in his country.

"If anyone tells you that there is anti-Semitism in Belarus, or that we oppress Muslims here, don't believe it," Lukashenko said at an official function Friday. "Only the enemies of Belarus can say such things about this sacred land, this sacred state, this sacred nation."

The president's statements followed an Israeli protest at remarks in which he suggested that Jews do not take care of places where they live.

Israel Radio said that Belarus was sending an envoy to Jerusalem as part of efforts to patch up ties.

Source:

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/104916.html