BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/12/2007

Belarusian President Hails Belarusian-Russian Relations As "Above Politics"

President Lukashenka said on December 14 that no political trends will affect relations between Belarus and Russia, Belapan reported. "Relations between brotherly nations are above all political things," Lukashenka said during a session of the Supreme State Council of the Belarusian-Russian Union State, which was also attended by Russian President Putin. "I am absolutely sure that our relations, being of a strategic nature, will remain the same whoever is in power in Russia," Lukashenka said. Putin said that Belarusian-Russian relations are based on fundamental ties, "because very close relations at the human level formed between the peoples of Belarus and Russia for centuries," Putin added. Lukashenka also said that Belarus is ready to "play a part" in a future Russian response to U.S. plans to establish elements of a missile-defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland, Belapan reported. Lukashenka said that Minsk is ready to closely coordinate with Russia its activities regarding the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. Russia on December 12 suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty, stating that the pact is outdated and does correspond with Russia's interests. The treaty is widely considered a crucial component of European arms control. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/12/3-cee/cee-171207.asp