President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko vowed in mid-September that the newly-elected lawmakers would consider whether to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Photo: Alexander Miridonov
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Belarus Takes Time
The recently-elected parliament of Belarus holds its first sitting today. Exactly that parliament would decide whether to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko vowed before the elections. Meanwhile, the lawmakers apparently evade considering the issue that is so vital for Moscow.
The start of the work of new parliament enjoys heightened attention. Indeed, President Alexander Lukashenko vowed in mid-September that the elected lawmakers would consider whether to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “I would like the new parliament to voice its opinion on the issue,” Lukashenko said September 19 in the interview with western media.
“They will probably have some other arguments and facts that are unknown to me. They will come on behalf of the people. Perhaps, they are more accurate about the sentiment of our nation in respect of the issue. And why all this hurry? Who needs this haste?” the president posed a rhetorical question, the answer to which is evident.
Moscow has repeatedly manifested it has been looking forward to execution of Lukashenko’s promise. But judging by the statement of House of Representatives Speaker Vladimir Andreichenko and the parliament’s order of business, the lawmakers won’t raise the issue in the near term.
The agendas set forth only organizational problems, said representatives of news services of both houses, adding they knew nothing about potential recognition of two Caucasus republics by Belarus.
The House of Representative will decide on recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia after the issue is submitted to the parliament, Andreichenko said this week without specifying who and/or when will submit it.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 31, 2008
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