Belarus' president says merger with Russia would lead to violence worse than in Chechnya

International Herald Tribune ^ | September 29, 2006

[Lukasz]

MINSK, Belarus Belarus' authoritarian president railed Friday against a proposed merger with Russia, warning it could lead to violence and disorder worse than in Russia's restive Chechnya region.

President Alexander Lukashenko's blunt remarks highlighted the rising tensions between the two ex-Soviet allies amid strained talks over natural gas prices.

Moscow and Minsk signed a union treaty in 1996 that envisaged close political, economic and military ties, but stopped short of creating a single state. The Kremlin, increasingly impatient about subsidizing Belarus' Soviet-style economy with cheap gas, has since proposed that Belarus be absorbed into Russia.

Lukashenko, who has vehemently opposed such a union, reiterated his stance during a 4 1/2-hour news conference Friday. "Even (Soviet dictator Josef) Stalin didn't go as far as that ... I don't want to be the first and the last Belarusian president," he said.

[RusIvan]

Even dear batka Luka doesn’t like Putin’s Russia LOL==

He wants to preserve Belorus national home. I won't blame him. Accually Putin especially give him unacceptable offers because Russia today don't want Belorus either. What she wants is they pay right money for russian energy. Today Russia needs only make money. Period.

As I remember I predicted that in last year.

[Pro-Bush]

This is good news - Democracy is taking a foothold. Russia looks like a bully. ..No surprise.

[Sergei_DV]

Noth Korea is some sort of black hole for us. Sometimes we can hear from media, that there exist such country. Looks, as it is USA closest neighbor and mighty and horrible enemy.
In late USSR there where very limited contacts with North Korea, today I do not know nobody, who was there. Its border is about 200 kilometers from my home. There where always many local Koreans in our region, USSR/Russia citizens. Red somewhere, that North Korean leaders regard Russia's leadership as traitors.
Russia has much stronger relations with South Korea. Their businessmen often go here, and ours there, sometimes they military ships visit our port. Many goods from South Korea are popular here.

[Centurion2000]

Lukashenko, who has vehemently opposed such a union, reiterated his stance during a 4 1/2-hour news conference Friday. "Even (Soviet dictator Josef) Stalin didn't go as far as that ... I don't want to be the first and the last Belarusian president," he said.

Lukashenko is already President for life in his small pond ... of course he doesn't want to give up his power.

[Thunder90]

North Korea has even had a falling out with China as of late. The North Koreans fired on Chinese and Russian border guards.