Tribuna: Criticism drew Belarus and Russia closer :: Charter'97 :: News

Russia’s papers commented with enthusiasm on the meeting of the Supreme State Council of Belarus and Russia in Moscow on April 22. “Our response to Condoleezza. Strong-worded statements by the US secretary of state drew Russia and Belarus closer,” says the headline in Tribuna.

“The long planned event was considered a routine meeting until US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s made her scandalous statements. The USA declared their keen interest in overthrowing the current Belarusian regime. Intentions were substantiated by concrete actions. The secretary of state met with representatives of the Belarusian opposition in Lithuania, promising them full political support.”

Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi says that the US president may meet with his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow. The paper quotes Belarusian MP Vasily Khrol as saying that the two leaders “will definitely find a common ground and shake hands.”

“It was noticed long ago that the Belarusian president has integration fits when his authority is threatened,” believes Moskovsky Komsomolets.

“If we give away Lukashenko we will be alone surrounded by democracies to which it is meat and drink to join NATO or the European Union. Russia’s unwise policies in the post-Soviet space have driven it into an amazing situation. As one author put it, ‘There is one decent man, but he is also, truly speaking, a big rascal,’” the paper jokes.

Gazeta.ru describes the meeting as a show staged in the light of Dr. Rice’s visit to Moscow and the GUUAM summit.