US Embassy in Moscow denies possibility of Bush-Lukashenko meeting :: Charter'97 :: News

The press office of the US Embassy in Moscow has denied the possibility of a meeting between Presidents George Bush of the United States and Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus in Moscow, RIA Novosti reported.

Nikolai Cherginets, a committee chairman in the Council of the Republic of the Belarusian National Assembly, said on April 22 that Mr. Bush considers meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow during May 9 events marking the Nazis` defeat in World War II.

"As any politician, I have connections and special relations with a certain circle of people, including in the USA," Mr. Cherginets told BelaPAN. "They gave me a signal that Mr. Bush and his team allegedly consider a possible meeting with Aleksandr Lukashenko during the 60-annivarsary victory celebrations, when thrown together in Moscow."

Mr. Cherginets added that he did not know whether Minsk was aware of the preparations for the meeting.

"We do not know any plans for such a meeting," an official with the US Department of State Country Office for Belarus told BelaPAN.

The US embassy in Moscow also said it was not aware of any plans for a meeting.