Lukashenka Regime Sees Belarusian-Russian Union State As Acorn Of First Eurasian And Then Universal Integration

"Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday vowed a military buildup in response to what he said was a threat from the West, and said the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons could not be ruled out, Associated Press news agency reports.

Lukashenko said in comments broadcast on state television that, in his view, Belarus did not need strategic weapons on its territory.

“I don’t think there will be a situation that would require the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons,” he said during military exercises between Russian and Belarussian forces — the largest ever for the two countries.

However, he qualified his remarks by saying: “If a threat to security existed, there is no need to rule anything out.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry declined comment on Lukashenko’s comments.
In an apparent desire to downplay relations with Belarus, President Vladimir Putin declined an invitation to attend exercises Saturday involving warplanes, combat helicopters, and tanks."

MosNews.com "Belarus to Respond to Threat From West by Russian Nuclear Weapons" June 26, 2006

mosnews.com/news/ 2004/08/04/belarus.shtml

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20:33
Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov: CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan] rapid deployment forces can resist foreign pressure

19:30
Sergei Martynov: next CSTO summit might approve list of terrorist organizations

19:16
Belarus suggests mechanism to make EurAsEC [Eurasian Economic Community] resolutions compulsory for all member-states

19:02
Sergei Martynov: EurAsEC becoming universal integration organisation

Belarusian Official State Telegraph Agency News Headlines June 29, 2006

http://www.belta.by/en

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PRESS RELEASE Embassy of Belarus Washington D.C., June 23, 2006

"Statement by Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia with regard to political declarations by the leadership of the United States and some European Union member-states on Belarus.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia expresses grave concern about recent frequent harsh declarations by the United States and some European Union member-states addressed to the political leadership of the Republic of Belarus and its President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as about political decisions restricting ability of the leadership of the Republic of Belarus to pursue foreign-policy.

The goal of such position is to question legitimacy of the President of an independent country who was publicly elected on a democratic basis in accordance with the Belarusian legislation.

Unfortunately, this has become customary in the foreign-policy of the US highest leadership which results in aggressions against sovereign member-states of the United Nations.

Members of the Parliamentary Assembly, of parliaments of Russia and other member-states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in the capacity of international observers, jointly agreed on a positive assessment of the referendum and Presidential elections that were held in the Republic of Belarus. It is clear for unbiased observers that the duly elected President enjoys the support of majority of Belarusian voters.

The Parliamentary Assembly believes that such evaluations and actions with regard to the leadership of the Republic of Belarus are the interference into internal affairs of a sovereign state and considers them as an effort to damage interests of Union State of Belarus and Russia.

Such practice with respect to the independent state is unacceptable and offends not only Belarusian people, but also nations on behalf of which such declarations are made."

http://www.belarusembassy.org/
















Minsk, Belarus, Europe.

Photo credit: www.belarusguide.com. With thanks.