BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/11/2008

Belarus President Hopes For Bill Clinton's Return

MINSK, Belarus (AFP)--Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko Monday welcomed the possible return of Bill Clinton if his wife Hillary is made U.S. secretary of state, saying this could thaw frosty U.S.-Belarus ties.

"I think at some stage we'll manage to have solid negotiations... I'm counting on this. I'm counting on Bill," Lukashenko told AFP in an interview in which he said he had "friendly relations" with the former president.

"We want a normal dialogue and I think if Bill tells Hillary about this... she'll listen - also because he played a big role in the Democrats' election campaign," Lukashenko said when asked about the new U.S. administration.

Reports have said Hillary Clinton is ready to accept president elect Barack Obama's offer to be secretary of state, but the New York senator's aides have played down reports that she has already signed up to the job.

Belarus and the U.S. have been in a long diplomatic battle, mainly over accusations from Washington about human rights abuses and undemocratic rule in this hardline former Soviet republic presided over by Lukashenko.

Source:

http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/belarus-president-hopes-for-bill-clinton-s-return-567685

Google
 


Partners:
Face.by Social Network
Face.by