BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/11/2006

Lukashenka Wants to Be Friends With Ukraine

translated by Irena Yakovina ,

President Viktor Yushchenko is not going to participate in the CIS summit which is to take place in Belarus capital of Minsk on November 28, Belarusian President Lukashenka revealed to journalists.

He is ready to foster cooperation with Ukraine, saying that "Belarus and Ukraine have no divergences able to break the Slavic fraternity tied these countries for centuries."

After the collapse of the Soviet Union each of former republics chose own way and their leaders decided to separate. Lukashenka regrets about that as Belarusians and Ukrainians were always in the vanguard of the Soviet Union development.

In his opinion, the huge and powerful country needed modernization but it might have been saved.

But for the time being the friendly countries should seek compromise and build closer ties.

"Whereas Europe, America, Asian countries integrate, Ukraine and Belarus are doomed to be together:We can reach much more if we team up," the Belarusian President claims.

The only thing he dislikes is when Ukraine comments political situation in the neighboring country. Lukashenka asks Ukrainian politicians to stop assessing Belarusian's inner policy as he did two years ago.

Belarusian President is on very good terms both with Ukraine's President and Prime Minister.

Ukrayinska Pravda

Source:

http://www2.pravda.com.ua/en/news/2006/11/23/6779.htm

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