Belarus leader blasts Moscow as relations plummet (AFP)

[Eugene]

Belarus leader blasts Moscow as relations plummet

by Valery Kalinovsky

Sun Jan 14, 10:23 AM ET

MINSK (AFP) - Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused Moscow
of trying to incorporate his country into Russia, in some of his sharpest comments
yet against one-time ally and energy partner Moscow.

Speaking after a bitter oil transit row between the two neighbours, the Belarussian
leader referred to a long-standing plan to form a joint state and said Moscow was
betraying the spirit of the plan.

He also blasted Sunday a pet Kremlin project, a plan by Gazprom to build a gas pipeline
under the Baltic Sea to Germany, which he said was the "most stupid" plan in Russian
history.

"The Russian leadership is demanding that we join the Russian Federation -- that's
what is in the heads of the Russian leadership. I don't want to bury the sovereignty
and independence of the country," Lukashenko said.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070114/wl_afp/belarusrussiadiplomacyenergy_070114152328

[BayCityProgressive]

1. I am siding with Lukashenko here

whatever short comings he may or may not have, Russia is trying to become an empire again and Belarus shouldn't have to deal with this bullshit.