Andrei Suzdaltsev: Putin to throw back Lukashenka's desires

The Belarusian ruler is expected to have a hard talk with the Russian president in Sochi.

Politologist Andrei Suzdaltsev spoke to charter97.org about the visit of the Belarusian dictator to Sochi,

“Firstly, we should take into account that Lukashenka's visit to Sochi ahead of the Winter Olympics is a significant event. At the stage of working out the plan of holding the Olympic Games in Sochi, Belarus insisted on participating in the project and took responsibility to construct a number of Olympic facilities. It later turned out that the work at some objects hadn't begun. They started to work in a rush this summer and autumn. As far as I know, big brigades of Belarusian construction workers were sent to Sochi. It was a serious operation, because Lukashenka doesn't want to shame himself before the eyes of Putin. So, Putin invites Lukashenka to assess his work,” the expert says.

The politilogist noted the second point was the relations between Russia and Belarus.

“We know well the range of relations. It is formed by Minsk's desires and demands, beginning from supplies of 23 million tonnes of oil in 2014 and ending with issuing a new loan of the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund. It also includes the fate of the sixth tranche of the previous loan and other issues. That's what we have on one side,” Andrei Suzdaltsev said.

The expert added: “Russia also has claims. I think they will form a package in the borders marked by Russian PM Medvedev at his latest meeting with Miasnikovich.”

“He gave a loud name to these issues – impeding the integration processes. Belarus's desires will be thrown back in Sochi. Russia will ask how Minsk plans to deepen its participation in the Eurasian integration project. It won't be an easy talk. Of course, Aliaksandr Lukashenka prepared arguments for the meeting. He will try to use the situation of Ukraine. As a politician, he will try to turn any situation to his advantage. I think it will be the most interesting meeting of Lukashneka and Putin in 2013,” the politologist thinks.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation yesterday. The Belarusian dictator and the Russian president discussed the agenda of the meetings of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the Supreme State Council of the Union State scheduled for 24-25 December in Moscow. Putin invited Lukashenka to see the Olympic facilities in Sochi and inspect the Belarusian facilities for the event.