BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/12/2008

Lithuania Hails Belarus Opposition Recognition

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AFP)--Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas Thursday hailed a decision by Belarus, long denounced by the West for its authoritarian regime, to legally recognize an opposition movement.

"Lithuania congratulates the Belarus government on making this step, which will contribute to this country's democratization and normalization of its relations with the Euro-Atlantic community," Usackas said in a statement.

Lithuania hoped other organizations would also be registered and allowed to operate without restrictions, he added.

Earlier Thursday Za Svobodu (For Freedom), the opposition party of one-time Belarus presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich, announced that it had finally been registered after two years of trying.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republic of 10 million people in an authoritarian fashion since 1994.

Lithuania has long tried to strike a balance between criticism of Lukashenko's regime and keeping day-to-day ties with its neighbour on an even keel.

Source:

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20081218/ACQDJON200812180910DOWJONESDJONLINE000625.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Lithuania%20Hails%20Belarus%20Opposition%20Recognition

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