Lukashenko Urges Government to Deal with Ukraine on Principle Matter :: Charter'97 :: News

Alexander Lukashenko urged the Cabinet to regulate in principle the problem with the Ukrainian debt. In the solution of this issue Belarus’ interests must be “strictly observed”, said Lukashenko during his Monday meeting with the Premier Gennady Novitsky. As you remember, during the June 13 meeting between the Prime Ministers of Belarus and Ukraine Gennady Novitsky and Anatoly Kinach, the sides discussed the Ukrainian debt before Belarus, but to no avail for the Belarusians.

Following three hour long talks the heads of governments failed to coordinate their positions, which is the reason why they never signed a bilateral agreement. For instance, Belarus deems that Ukraine must compensate her $113mln debt. According to Kiev, however, the debt amounts to $51mln.

The negotiations between the two Premiers were initiated by the president Alexander Lukashenko and Leonid Kuchma who met on May 29 in Chernigov in order to regulate the financial problem in bilateral trade relations between the two neighboring states.