Paul Goble
Staunton,
December 14 – Speaking in Minsk today, Belarusian President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka says that “under the pretext of ‘deep integration,’” Moscow wants to
make Belarus part of Russia, an action he said he would never agree to and one
that he suspects the Russian authorities have not fully thought through given
its obvious negative consequences.
Many
Russian officials suggest that all problems in relations with Belarus will be
solved with further “deep integration,” but what they mean, Lukashenka continues
is contained in the remarks of others who
says “we are ready for you as six oblasts to become part of the Russian
Federation” (interfax.ru/world/642329).
Worse
yet, the Belarusian leader says, Moscow is currently talking about things like the
creation of a currency union with a common central bank, but this means, he
suggests, “building the union from the roof rather than from the foundation” as
is required if it is to be stable and long-lasting.
As
Belsat reported, Lukashenka “declared that integration with Russia must occur
in a step by step fashion and under conditions of the complete fulfillment of
all previous agreements.” If these are not fulfilled,” he said, “there is no
union,” his clearest rejection yet of Russian pretensions (belsat.eu/ru/news/lukashenko-ob-integratsii-s-rossiej-shantazhirovat-nas-bespolezno/).
It
is “senseless,” he continued, for the Russian side to try to get its way by
threats and backroom deals. “I cannot go in for behind the scenes machinations.
Everything must be honest and open.” And that requires admitting that many of
the things Russia says about its economic assistance simply aren’t true.
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