DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / BELARUS TREATY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255522
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The president of Belarus has called for Russia
to approve quickly a planned merger between the two
countries. Moscow Correspondent Peter Heinlein
reports Russian lawmakers responded warmly to the
proposal.
TEXT: In a fiery speech to Russia's lower house, the
Duma, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko
accused pro-western interests of trying to subvert the
public demand for a merger between Moscow and Minsk.
/// LUKASHENKO ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO... ///
He says we are a nation strongly nostalgic for Soviet
times. And we are proud of it. But at the same time,
he added, I am not a Communist.
Mr. Lukashenko, a former Soviet collective farm
director, was presented with massive bouquets of
flowers on his arrival at the Duma. His lengthy
speech was frequently interrupted by applause from the
Communist and hardliner dominated house, especially
when he lashed out at western institutions.
/// 2ND LUKASHENKO ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
He says why are you kneeling down before these thieves
from the I-M-F?
That is a reference to the International Monetary
Fund, which has loaned Russia billions of dollars, but
is withholding further loan installments pending the
results of several corruption investigations.
Mr. Lukashenko urged Russia to turn away from the I-M-
F, and instead raise cash by selling sophisticated
weapons systems. He specifically mentioned boosting
arms sales to Middle Eastern countries such as Syria.
Until recently, Moscow has treated Mr. Lukashenko's
union overtures with caution. He and President Boris
Yeltsin signed an agreement in 1996 boosting
political, economic, and military ties. But the
accord stopped far short of creating a single state.
But the Belarussian leader said he has won President
Yeltsin's solid support for signing a treaty as early
as December. He warned that any further delay risks
losing the people's faith in the concept of a unified
Russian/Belarussian state.
/// 3RD LUKASHENKO ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
He says -- I am fulfilling the will of my people. I
will complete the mission by all means.
Mr. Lukashenko did not mention it, but a treaty
signing in December could have far-reaching
implications for Russian politics. First, it would
come shortly before parliamentary elections in which
President Yeltsin's opponents are heavily favored.
And second, opposition forces say the treaty could
give Mr. Yeltsin an excuse to postpone elections and
stay in power past the middle of next year, when he is
due to step down. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/GE/RAE
27-Oct-1999 10:32 AM EDT (27-Oct-1999 1432 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
