Politicians comment on Lukashenko`s UN Summit speech :: Charter'97 :: News

While speaking in New York on Thursday, the Belarusian leader renewed his criticism of the United States, accusing it of attempts to use democracy issues to control other countries. He said that Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein are behind bars on "groundless" and "absurd" accusations and should be released.

He also said that the UN fails to address real issues and made a call for multipolarity.
Mr. Lukashenko "bravely identified the organization`s problems and all burning issues that need to be tackled," said Mr. Zabolotets. "He was right to say that it is high time to put an end to double standards and that the unipolar world that emerged after the collapse of the USSR has brought nothing positive to the international community."

He said he was sure that most Belarusians shared Mr. Lukashenko`s view.

"This is a case where a molehill wants to be a mountain," said Mr. Lebedko. "Now it is not enough for him to lead the group of revenge seekers in the post-Soviet region. He wants now to rise to eminence and lead an international anti-American coalition."

The opposition politician condemned Mr. Lukashenko`s speech as barefaced, referring to the call for the release of the former Iraqi leader. "The Belarusian president failed to mention that he holds Mikhail Marinich, a former minister and diplomat, in prison for the alleged stealing of a few computers," he stressed.

"The Belarusians were taught long ago that they are the 51st state of the USA. People in Belarus know about the problems of that country much more than about theirs. This calls to mind the metaphor about spotting the mote in another`s eye while ignoring the log in your own eye," he added.