BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/03/2006

Lukashenko 'not afraid of isolation'

MINSK, Belarus, March 21 (UPI) -- As international dissent mounted Tuesday over the fairness of the weekend election in Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko said he was "not afraid."

While official results gave Lukashenko 82.6 percent of the vote, the European Union and United States said they didn't accept the results as fair, and were considering various punitive measures, the Washington Post reported.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday expansion of existing restrictions on travel by senior Belarusian leaders is under discussion. That was echoed by various politicians in Germany on Tuesday.

The European Union, which has three member states that border Belarus, also has undisclosed steps in place.

"Some action is now very likely," the EU external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said.

But at a news conference Monday, Lukashenko dismissed the threats of sanctions.

"I'm not afraid of isolation," Lukashenko said. "It's very difficult to suffocate us economically or politically.

Source:

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060321-084903-9503r