Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- <<<<Lukashenko's crackdown on political opponents and independent media has made him a pariah in the West, but he remains popular among Belarusians thanks to his firebrand populism and efforts to ****preserve a Soviet-era social safety net***. >>> A most revealing remark... On 31 Aug 01, at 2:41, Rick Rozoff wrote: > Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK > --------------------------------------------- > > 11:36 [Friday 31st August, 2001] > > Lukashenko bristles at U.S. > > MINSK, Belarus (AP)- With the presidential election > just over a week away, Belarus' President Alexander > Lukashenko on Thursday donned combat fatigues to > attend a military exercise and accused the United > States of pressuring his ex-Soviet republic. > > "We have elements of information pressure on Belarus, > starting with petty statements on Radio Liberty and > ending with a statement by U.S. Secretary of State > (Colin) Powell," Lukashenko said at a meeting with > officials before the start of the military maneuvers. > > In a statement posted on the Web site of the U.S. > Embassy in Belarus, Powell congratulated the > Belarusian people on their independence from the > Soviet Union 10 years ago but accused the government > of abandoning "the transition to democracy and the > rule of law." > > Lukashenko sharply reacted to Powell's statement in a > television interview broadcast Wednesday, calling it > "insolent and unprecedented." > > Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev told > Lukashenko that the military maneuvers, which involved > 10,000 troops, were imitating a response to an > "intervention." Lukashenko routinely accuses the West > of hatching plans to overthrow his government. > > Lukashenko, who has ruled the nation of 10 million > since 1994, is widely expected to win a second term in > Sept. 9 elections. Lukashenko's crackdown on political > opponents and independent media has made him a pariah > in the West, but he remains popular among Belarusians > thanks to his firebrand populism and efforts to > preserve a Soviet-era social safety net. > > The state-controlled Belarusian media also lavished > Lukashenko with praise on his 47th birthday Thursday. > "Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has a strong > authority both at home and abroad," wrote the official > daily Zvyazda (Star). "He is strongly committed to > defending human rights and combating terrorism and > drug-trafficking." Detailed coverage > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger > http://im.yahoo.com > > ------------------------------------------------- > This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has >been shut down > > > > ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
