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Belarus May Nix Nuke Withdrawal

MOSCOW (AP) -- The Belarusian president threatened Wednesday to stop the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from his former Soviet republic unless NATO guarantees its borders will remain nuclear-free.

President Alexander Lukashenko, addressing Russia's parliament, said he was concerned that the alliance would deploy nuclear missiles in the countries of eastern Europe if they become NATO members as anticipated.

``The withdrawal of the missiles from Belarus must be tied in with a requirement that similar weapons should not be located near Belarus' borders,'' Lukashenko said.

Belarus, which inherited part of Moscow's nuclear arsenal after the 1991 Soviet collapse, already has suspended the withdrawal of its 18 remaining long-range nuclear missiles to Russia while demanding compensation.

The missiles were supposed to be transferred to Russia by the end of the year. According to previous reports, the weapons have been dismantled and are not longer a military threat.

There was no reaction Wednesday from the Russian government, which has urged Belarus to stick to the timetable.

Lukashenko's appearance in parliament was protested by dozens of Russian lawmakers, who walked out before his speech and denounced the visiting leader as a power-hungry autocrat.

The deputies object to Lukashenko's planned referendum in Belarus on Nov. 24. If the referendum is approved, it will extend Lukashenko's term in office until 2001 and expand his already extensive powers.

The protesting lawmakers said allowing Lukashenko to speak could be seen as support for his referendum.

About 70 Russian deputies, including members of the pro-government Our Home is Russia party and independents, walked out of parliament's 450-seat lower house, the State Duma, shortly before Lukashenko arrived. A proposal by Yabloko earlier Wednesday to cancel Lukashenko's speech was defeated by a 286-56 vote.

In his speech, Lukashenko urged closer integration between Russia and Belarus, and possibly reunification of the former Soviet republics.

Calling his tiny country ``the bulwark on Russia's western frontier, Lukashenko pledged to join Russia in opposing NATO's plans for eastward expansion.