A source: Belarus disturbed by Russia’s “lurches of policy” on “union state” development issue
9- 1.12.2008, 10:33
The meeting of Belarus and Russia’s leaders in Moscow planned on December has been postponed because the agenda of the summit has not been adjusted completely.
As news agency Interfax-West was told by an unknown source in the entourage of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Minsk is disturbed by “lurches of policy” of the Russian side on the issue of the “union state”.
“Belarus has always been and will be ready at any time and in any format, be it a one-to-one meeting or a session of the supreme state council of the “union”, to discuss any issues related to the “union building”, the source underlined.
The interlocutor of the agency reminded that the leaders of the two countries “reached a clear and concrete agreement to give a new boost to the union state development taking into account the emerging geopolitical conditions in Brest on June 22 and in Moscow on October 25”. “In view of the agreement Belarus suggested expanding the routine agenda of the Supreme State Council session with draft major political, economic and military decisions. Russia refused to discuss these issues at the supreme state council session and suggested considering the draft documents discreetly. Belarus agreed and was ready to do it.
However, at the last moment the Kremlin scrapped the previously reached agreements and approved holding a Supreme State Council session to discuss only the routine agenda. By the way, the agenda has not been adjusted completely,” said the high-ranking Belarusian source.
“Such wavering is simply not explainable. Belarus is ready to meeting in any format. But it is important for these meetings, including the session of the supreme state council, not for the sake of appearance, but for real development of the union. As the prime minister of Russia Vladimir Putin says, “substantive discussion of issues” is necessary,” the source said.
The Belarusian representative has also stated readiness to publish the entire official correspondence between Minsk and Moscow before the summit which is to make everything clear.
Commenting on the explanations of an anonymous source in the Kremlin the reason for rescheduling the meeting of the two presidents by a request of an Interfax-West reporter, the Belarusian representative stated that he views them as “misleading information”.
