Raman Yakauleuski: “In Autumn Russian military men will be in Belarus. Then we’ll feel tension”

• 13.08.2008, 11:18

In October military exercises are to take place in Belarus. Russian air forces are to take part in them. According to experts, it could cause tensions in the region.

The official Minsk has adopted a rather reserved position towards Russian-Georgian war in South Ossetia, having restricted themselves to calls to stop fire. The Ambassador of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov said that “it is completely incomprehensible for us, why the state authorities of Belarus are keeping silent timidly” on the situation in South Ossetia. “EuroRadio” and the international observer Raman Yakauleuski tried to deal with the situation:

- There are experts, who state that after the war with South Ossetia relations between Minsk and Moscow would become warmer. Do you believe it’s true?

I do not think there is a connection. I would like to turn your attention to another thing. In October military exercises are to take place in Belarus. . Russian air forces are to take part in them. And when Russian forces will appear in our region, in the context of the Russian-Georgian war, which could cause tensions in our region. As is known, all countries neighbouring on Belarus have expressed their support to Georgia.

- The Belarusian Foreign Ministry is very reserved in its official statements on Russian-Georgian conflict. It reserves itself only to cease fire, that’s all/ Maybe it is the most right position?

- To my mind, for today Belarus is trying to keep to neutrality, in a very reserved and rational manner. In this situation it is the most sensible position. But it could be evidence of another thing: it would be more and more difficult for Belarus to maintain military partnership with Russia. And it is the outcome of the events in Georgia.

- Some experts blame Belarus with not supporting Russia in an open manner, saying we have a “union state”, so why Belarus does not support Russia in the framework of the signed agreements…

- I would like to ask these experts, who had supported Russia for today in its war with Georgia? Not a single country, including the CIS countries.

- And how could it be that the Belarusian TV has an explicitly pro-Russian position and speaks about Georgia very negatively?

- The Belarusian TV re-broadcasts Russian channels, that have unleashed a large propaganda campaign. And I wouldn’t speak about the official Belarusian position judging by the Belarusian TV. But I do not exclude that in the near future we will hear some interesting statements from the Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka. By the way, on August 14 a meetgin of Putin and Sidorski is planned. It is possible that the Belarusian side is pausing before this meeting.

- Wouldn’t Russia punish Belarus for such a reserved position, by gas prices for instance?

- Anyway, they promise USD 200 since next year, which is a sure death for us. It is known that today our brotherly friendship with Russia is based on market relations.

- Alyaksandr Milinkevich in his interview to Gazeta Wyborcza said that the war in South Ossetia escalates anti-West and anti-NATO sentiments. Is it true?

- It could be true, but not only such sentiments are predominant in Belarus. It is obvious that the threat to sovereignty which exists in Georgia now, can concern other countries at the post-Soviet area.

- That means you believe that Belarusians fear not only the NATO, but Russia as well? Do they fear for their sovereignty?

- Exactly.